'Varney & Co.' host Stuart Varney weighed in on FIFA President Gianni Infantino's praise of the incredible excitement for the World Cup in every American host city during an appearance on 'Fox & Friends.'
The richest FIFA World Cup in history will culminate on Sunday when Argentina and Spain compete not only to lift soccer's most coveted trophy, but also for a record $50 million prize.
The 2026 tournament marked the first World Cup to feature 48 teams and 104 matches, prompting FIFA to increase its funding allocation to a record R871 million. Of that total, $655 million is made up of performance-based prize money, and the payouts increase each round as teams advance in the competition.
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With the trophy and a record $50 million on the line, Sunday's final will cap the richest World Cup in history. (Jordan Bank/FIFA/Getty Images)
Apart from the performance-based prize money, all the countries that have qualified for the World Cup are guaranteed to have a good financial result before the start of the games. FIFA awarded each participating confederation $10 million in qualification funding and another $2.5 million in preparation funding, with additional contributions to help cover travel, transportation and delegation costs.
That meant every country was guaranteed at least $12.5 million before kick-off, with the chance to dramatically increase their earnings by getting out of the group stage and making a deep victory round.
The teams that reached the quarterfinals won 19 million dollars, while those eliminated from the Round of 16 received 15 million dollars. The nations eliminated from the Round of 32 took home $11 million, while the 16 teams that made it out of the group stage collected $9 million.
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The winner on Sunday will receive $50 million, while the runner-up will receive $33 million, which means that the playoffs carry $17 million in prizes.
Prize money has grown dramatically alongside the tournament itself. When Italy won the 1982 World Cup, the total prize money was just $20 million and the champion received $2.2 million. Forty-four years later, FIFA's total distribution has risen to a record $871 million, while the prize money for the champion alone has increased more than 20-fold to $50 million.
The United States, which reached the Round of 16 before falling to Belgium, earned $15 million in performance-based prize money.
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Lionel Messi celebrates with fans and teammates after winning the FIFA World Cup Qatar final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on Dec. 18, 2022, Lusail City, Qatar. (Michael Regan/FIFA via Getty Images)
Prize money is paid to each national football association, which decides how it is distributed between players, coaches and development programs according to its own goals.
The 2026 World Cup also made history off the field, becoming the first tournament to be co-hosted by three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.
