The FIFA World Cup 2026 has kickstarted on June 11 and is scheduled to take place till July 19. This Football’s biggest event features three nations hosting the 48-team tournament across 39 days in 104 matches, making the tournament more highly competitive than ever before. Also, the prize money has witnessed a notable surge for all participating teams.

Despite cricket being a beloved sport, when it comes to the biggest sports festival, this bat-and-ball game is nowhere near the world’s most famous sport, like Football.

Fans are shocked to know that the prize money of the FIFA World Cup 2026 champions would be 19 times higher than the T20 World Cup 2026, which concluded in March this year.

A Glance At FIFA World Cup 2026 Prize Money

Compared to the previous edition, the FIFA World Cup 2026 has witnessed a 50% increase in prize money. As per the reports, the overall funds available for this tournament are $727 million, out of which $655 million prize money will be allocated across the 48 participating teams.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the ongoing 23rd edition of the FIFA WC prize money tabulated below in USD and INR currency (approximate value converted and mentioned as of 15th June 2026):

Additional Benefits For FIFA World Cup 2026 Participating Teams

Each qualifying team will receive a jaw-dropping amount of $1.5 million (approximately INR 14.20 crore) to cover the preparation expenses. So, even the knocked-out teams in the first round, ranked between 33rd and 48th position, are certain to receive $10.5 million, which is approximately INR 99 crore.

Notably, the runner-up of the FIFA WC 2026 earns $33 million, which is approximately 12.5 times greater than the T20 World Cup 2026 champions’ prize money ($2.63 million).

Revisiting ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Prize Money

The overall prize pool for the men’s T20 World Cup 2026 was around $13.5 million, and here is how the prize money was allocated to each participating team in the tournament:

Cricket Champions vs Football Champions: The Highest Prize Money Winner?

The prize money in cricket World Cup events is much lower and cannot be easily matched like that of football. This is because the FIFA WC champions’ rewards are nearly 16.67 times greater than the prize money of the T20 WC 2026 champions.

Notably, the overall prize pool for FIFA is reported to be around $727 million, while T20WC 2026 comes in at a mere $13.5 million.

In simpler terms, the qualifying teams in the FIFA World Cup 2026 first round ($9 million for ranking between 33rd and 48th) earn 3 times as much as the winners of the T20 World Cup 2026 ($3 million).

FICA WC 2026 vs T20 WC 2026: Reasons for the Massive Difference in Prize Money

Here are the core reasons why the FIFA World Cup 2026 prize money creates a bigger gap compared to cricket’s core events:

1. Popularity

There is no doubt that Football is the world’s most popular sport, garnering billions of viewers across the globe. A massive revenue is generated through ticket sales, media rights, sponsors, and partnerships.

Contrarily, cricket is popular only in Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, etc. Also, this sport is familiar in SENA nations like South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia. But, when it comes to global reach, cricket is not as popular as football.

Other sports events, including cricket’s financial power, eventually become diminutive in front of FIFA’s popularity.

2. Broadcasting and Media Rights

A massive global reach can help FIFA secure multi-billion-dollar broadcasting deals across the globe, enhancing a larger financial pool.

3. Top-Tier Sponsorships

Major companies invest heavily in FIFA World Cup sponsorships as there is a complete guarantee of gaining global exposure. This significantly enhances the commercial revenue distributed to all participating teams in the tournament.