PARIS: The winners of the 2026 World Cup will receive $50 million in prize money as part of a record financial contribution for the tournament from FIFA, world football&#39;s governing body announced on Wednesday.&nbsp;The total World Cup prize fund of $655 million (558.5 million euros) represents an increase of almost 50 percent from the $440 million distributed to teams taking part in the last tournament in Qatar in 2022.&nbsp;However, next year&#39;s World Cup -- to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19 -- will be the first to feature 48 teams, a 50 percent increase from the 32 teams last time.&nbsp;The Argentine Football Association received $42 million in prize money after Lionel Messi inspired them to glory three years ago, when they won on penalties in the final against France.&nbsp;France received $30 million for their run to the final. This time, the beaten finalists will pocket $33 million, with the third-place finishers collecting $29 million and the other defeated semi-finalists getting $27 million.&nbsp;Teams eliminated in the group phase will receive $9 million, while all 48 participating nations will get an additional $1.5 million to cover &quot;preparation costs.&quot;

Football

FIFA announced a record $655 million prize fund for the expanded 2026 World Cup, with winners earning $50 million, higher payouts across all stages, and all 48 teams receiving added preparation funding from governing body.

Winners of 2026 World Cup to pocket $50 million in prize money

WASHINGTON: England will open their 2026 FIFA World Cup bid against Croatia in Dallas on June 17, while the latest meeting of Brazil and Scotland at the tournament will take place in Miami, the international governing body of football confirmed on Saturday.&nbsp;The complex nature of the first-ever 48-team World Cup, being played across North America, meant that FIFA needed an extra day to set venues and kick-off times following Friday&#39;s draw.&nbsp;Thomas Tuchel&#39;s England, who are fourth in the current world ranking, will play Croatia at 3 p.m. local time at the AT&amp;T Stadium in Arlington, just outside Dallas.&nbsp;They will therefore be grateful for the stadium&#39;s retractable roof, which should help keep out the baking afternoon temperatures.&nbsp;England will then go to the northeastern United States for their remaining Group L fixtures, taking on Ghana in Boston on June 23 at 4 p.m. local time, and then facing Panama at MetLife Stadium just outside New York City on June 27 at 5 p.m.&nbsp;European champions Spain will play their first two Group H fixtures, against debutants Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, at the covered, air-conditioned Atlanta stadium.&nbsp;They will then head to Mexico to take on Uruguay in Guadalajara.&nbsp;Holders Argentina, meanwhile, will meet Algeria in Kansas City in their opening match in Group J on June 16 before facing Austria and Jordan in Dallas.&nbsp;France, winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, will play all three Group I matches in the northeastern US, facing Senegal at the MetLife Stadium and Norway in Boston, either side of a fixture in Philadelphia against an intercontinental play-off winner.&nbsp;Brazil, who won the last World Cup staged in the United States in 1994, will meet Morocco at the MetLife Stadium in their first Group C encounter on June 13.&nbsp;Carlo Ancelotti&#39;s team then meets Haiti in Philadelphia on June 19 before a clash with Scotland in Miami on June 24 -- it will be the fifth time the countries have faced off at a World Cup.&nbsp;Other games to look out for include the meeting of Germany and Caribbean minnows Curacao in Houston in Group E on June 14.&nbsp;Co-hosts Mexico will play South Africa in the opening match -- a repeat of the opening game at the 2010 World Cup -- at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11.&nbsp;The final at the MetLife Stadium on July 19 will kick off at 3 p.m.

England will start their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas, with group matches later in Boston and New York. Major fixtures include Brazil-Scotland in Miami, Spain’s early games in Atlanta, and Argentina opening against Algeria.

England to begin FIFA World Cup bid in Dallas after 2026 schedule confirmed

LISBON: Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo can play in the opening matches of the 2026 World Cup after global football governing body FIFA gave him a partially &quot;suspended&quot; ban on Tuesday following a red card.&nbsp;The 40-year-old was sent off as Portugal lost 2-0 in Dublin earlier in November when he elbowed Dara O&#39;Shea in the back, for his first dismissal in 226 international appearances.&nbsp;FIFA banned Ronaldo for three matches, two of which will be suspended and the other has already been served, when Portugal sealed their qualification for next summer&#39;s tournament against Armenia.&nbsp;&quot;In line with article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the serving of the two remaining matches has been suspended under a one-year probation period,&quot; said FIFA in a statement given to AFP.&nbsp;&quot;If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension set out in the disciplinary decision shall be deemed automatically revoked and the remaining two matches must be served immediately at the next official (Portugal) matches.&quot;&nbsp;Ronaldo, the men&#39;s all-time top goalscorer in international football with 143 goals, is aiming to play at a sixth World Cup next summer in the United States, Mexico and Canada.&nbsp;The former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker, currently at Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, has not yet lifted the trophy but did win Euro 2016 with Portugal.&nbsp;Ronaldo attended a dinner in the White House last week where he met US President Donald Trump, who said his son Barron &quot;is a big fan&quot; of the forward.&nbsp;The World Cup group stage draw takes place on December 5.

Cristiano Ronaldo can play Portugal’s 2026 World Cup opener after FIFA suspended two of his three-match bans. Having already served one match, he remains eligible unless he commits a similar offence during a one-year probation period.

Ronaldo cleared for 2026 World Cup opener after FIFA suspends ban

Reuters

RABAT: Morocco set a new record of 16 successive victories by a national team as they completed their World Cup qualifying campaign with 1-0 home win over Congo on Tuesday. Youssef En-Nesyri scored in the 63rd minute in Rabat to ensure Morocco finished their Group E programme with eight wins from eight matches, the only side in the African preliminaries with a 100% record. The victory saw them go past the record of 15 that Spain set over a 12-month period between June 2008 and June 2009. Morocco last failed to win an international when they drew 0-0 with Mauritania in a friendly in March 2024 but have since posted victories in seven World Cup qualifiers, six qualifiers for this year&rsquo;s Africa Cup of Nations finals and three friendlies. Morocco&rsquo;s run does not include matches played by a B team made up only of home-based players that won the African Nations Championship in Kenya in August. Morocco&rsquo;s 19-month winning run saw them score 50 goals and concede four. Spain began their run beating Russia 3-0 in the semi-final of the 2008 European Championship and their 15th consecutive win came with a 2-0 victory over hosts South Africa in their final group game in the 2009 Confederations Cup. They lost their record when the United States beat them in the Confederations Cup semi-final in Bloemfontein. During their winning streak Spain only conceded twice while scoring 39. Morocco have yet to announce plans for friendlies in the November international window but at the end of the year host the Cup of Nations finals, where they meet Comoros in the opening game on December 21.

Morocco’s Abdelhakim El Mesbahi celebrates with teammates after winning the penalty shootout against France in the FIFA U-20 World Cup semifinal at Estadio Elias Figueroa in Valparaiso, Chile, Oct. 15, 2025. (Reuters/Rodrigo Garrido)

Morocco set a new record of 16 successive victories by a national team as they completed their World Cup qualifying campaign with 1-0 home win over Congo on Tuesday.

Articles tagged with "FIFA World Cup 2026"

Winners of 2026 World Cup to pocket $50 million in prize money

England to begin FIFA World Cup bid in Dallas after 2026 schedule confirmed

Ronaldo cleared for 2026 World Cup opener after FIFA suspends ban

Morocco defeats Congo to break Spain’s record with 16th win

Winners of 2026 World Cup to pocket $50 million in prize money