Al-Quds newspaper

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) revealed a qualitative leap in the financial allocations directed to the teams participating in the 2026 World Cup finals, as it was decided to raise the total budget to reach a ceiling of 900 million dollars. This step reflects the boom in commercial gains achieved by the tournament, especially after the decision to expand the participation base to include 48 teams instead of 32, which enhances marketing resources and broadcast rights.

During the FIFA Council meeting held in the Canadian city of Vancouver, an increase of 15% in the total amounts to be distributed to national federations was officially approved. The next edition, hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, will benefit from this huge financial influx, which aims to enable the teams to cover the costs of participating in the largest World Cup edition in terms of the number of matches and geographical distances.

According to official data, the exact value of the allocations amounted to about $871 million, with the financial support allocated for the preparations phase raised to $2.5 million for each participating team, after it was around $1.5 million in previous sessions. The financial amendments also included raising the bonus for direct qualification to the finals to $10 million instead of $9 million, as part of a comprehensive plan to strengthen the financial resources of the continental federations.

The President of the International Federation, Gianni Infantino, confirmed that the international organization is currently going through its most prosperous financial period ever, noting that the current economic strength allows providing unprecedented support to member associations. Infantino explained that the primary goal of these increases is to reinvest the huge returns in football development projects around the world, and to ensure that all teams have the necessary capabilities to compete in the best possible way.

Despite these financial temptations, serious concerns have emerged among some federations, especially European ones, about the logistical and financial burdens resulting from organizing on the North American continent. These concerns relate to the long travel distances between host cities, and the difference in tax laws between the three countries, which may deplete a large portion of the financial rewards in covering the operational expenses of sports delegations.

It is noteworthy that the 2026 World Cup represents a historic turning point in the tournament’s journey, as it is the first to include 48 teams, which opens wide horizons for increasing ticket revenues and sponsorship rights. It is expected that this edition will be the most profitable in the history of football, given the huge host markets and the significant increase in the number of matches that will attract millions of fans from all over the world.