Some European football associations are genuinely worried they could lose money at the 2026 World Cup. That's the uncomfortable reality sitting behind UEFA's decision to formally lobby FIFA for increased financial support ahead of the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Multiple sources familiar with the conversations say UEFA has been asked by several member associations to escalate their concerns directly to FIFA. The core problem: the costs of competing — training camps, oversized delegations, player bonuses, and a particularly punishing US tax environment — are threatening to swallow whatever prize money these nations earn.
The prize money math doesn't add up for everyone
FIFA increased World Cup prize money by 50 per cent this cycle, up to $655m from $440m in Qatar. On the surface, that sounds generous. Dig into the structure and it gets complicated fast.
That pot is now split across 48 teams instead of 32. Group stage exits earn $9m — same as 2022 — plus a $1.5m preparation fee, meaning the floor is $10.5m per nation. But for associations taking delegations well beyond the 50-person threshold FIFA covers, running pre-tournament camps in the US (where one federation received quotes of $25,000–$50,000 per day from a single training facility), and navigating state-by-state tax exposure, that figure can erode fast.
California and New Jersey — which hosts the final at MetLife Stadium — carry some of the highest state tax burdens. Florida and Texas have none. Whether your group stage games land in Los Angeles or Miami isn't just a travel consideration anymore. It's a financial one. One scenario being discussed would see FIFA increase support for associations playing more frequently in high-tax states.
FIFA is generating billions — the argument for a bigger share
FIFA president Gianni Infantino projected over $11 billion in revenue from this World Cup cycle in February. FIFA has pledged to return at least 90 per cent of its budgeted investments back into global football — but exactly how that gets distributed remains unclear to the federations doing the actual budgeting.
The matter is due to be discussed behind closed doors at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver at the end of May. UEFA declined to comment publicly. FIFA also declined to comment but is reportedly working on possible solutions with participating associations.
For the tournament's bigger nations, losing money at a World Cup would be embarrassing rather than existential. For smaller European associations that already operate on tighter margins, the calculus is genuinely difficult. Winners collect $50m. A team that goes out in the group stage, racks up US camp costs, pays out player bonuses, and draws games in California twice? They might be doing the maths on whether this was worth it.
