The FIFA council in Doha has approved an increase of the prize money for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by 50%, with even the bottom-ranked teams guaranteed $10.5 million (R175 million).
The tournament is set to kick off on 11 June, when co-hosts Mexico will face Bafana Bafana in a replay of the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening match.
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Then, Bafana held Mexico to a 1-1 draw but sadly still exited from the group stages after a 3-0 defeat to Uruguay and despite a 2-1 win over France.
Next year, Bafana’s four points from 2010 would probably be enough to at least qualify as one of the best third-placed teams of the extended World Cup. The 2026 version will be the first 48-team World Cup, meaning the eight best third-placed teams will also advance.
Hugo Broos has already admitted that he targets exactly that third spot in Group A after Bafana were drawn alongside Mexico, Korea Republic and the winner of a European playoff.
But even in case South Africa would not progress, they are guaranteed $9 million (R150 million) in prize money in addition to $1.5 million (R25 million), which every football association will receive to prepare for the tournament and cover travel arrangements.
The winning team will receive $50 million (R836 million), as per Sky News, which is twice as much as defending champions Argentina got in 2022.
Below is the full prize money break down, which was approved by FIFA:
- Champions: $50m (R836m)
- Runners-up: $33m (R552m)
- 3rd place: $29m (R485m)
- 4th place: $27m (R451m)
- 5th-8th place: $19m (R318m)
- 9th-16th place: $15m (R251m)
- 17th- 32nd place: $11m (R184m)
- 33rd-48th place: $9m (R150m)
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