Do World Cup players get paid? Yes, but it's complicated

The 2026 FIFA World Cup starts on June 11 with 48 countries, three host nations, and the best players in the world all fighting for title.  

Every player from every team will earn money for playing at the World Cup, but the amount could vary dramatically.

Here’s a breakdown on how World Cup players get paid.

FIFA does not pay players. It pays federations. Those federation officials decide what trickles down to the players.  

The prize pool in 2026 is $871 million. Every team that qualified for the tournament gets at least $12.5 million before a game is played. That’s $10 million for qualifying and $2.5 million for preparation.  

It goes up fast from there. If you win the whole thing, your federation takes home a $50 million prize. Lose in the final; your federation gets $33 million. 

Get bounced from the quarterfinals; it’s still a $19 million check. Even the teams that do not survive the group stages leave with a $9 million consolation prize.  

Most countries pay per game, sometimes with bonuses for going deeper into the tournament. The amounts vary wildly and are rarely made public. 

Kylian Mbappé reportedly made £17,000 ($22,830) per match for France at the 2018 World Cup, a modest sum for someone who has gone on to become one of the world’s highest-paid players. According to L’Equpe, Mbappé donated his earnings from that tournament, which France won, to charity.

But for players from smaller federations with more modest budgets, the check can be life changing.  

England players get match fees, which in 2018 the BBC calculated at £2,000 ($2,690) per game. They’ve reportedly donated every cent to the England Footballers Foundation since 2007.

The U.S. men’s and women’s national teams share their World Cup money. It’s in their collective bargaining agreement through 2028, and it was a long time coming.  

For years, the USWNT fought a public and legal battle over equal pay. After a federal lawsuit, a landmark CBA signed in 2022 saw U.S. Soccer become the first federation to equalize World Cup prize money for their men’s and women’s national teams.

Now, both teams pool and split 80% of whatever FIFA pays at their respective World Cups. The women earn the same from the men’s tournament as the men do — and vice versa.

When players leave for the World Cup, their clubs still own their contracts. FIFA compensates them for it. A total of $355 million is set aside for clubs releasing players for the tournament. It comes out to about $11,000-$12,000 per player per day.  

At the last World Cup, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City each collected between $4 million and $5 million just to let their players go. 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How much do players make for playing at World Cup 2026?