Ghana is guaranteed a minimum of $10.5 million for qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following FIFA’s approval of a record $727 million financial package for the expanded tournament.

The decision, made by the FIFA Council, marks a 50 per cent increase in prize money compared to the Qatar 2022 World Cup. This boost reflects the larger scale of the competition, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico with 48 participating teams.

A total of $655 million will be distributed as performance-based prize money to the Participating Member Associations (PMAs). Teams that finish between 33rd and 48th place will each receive $9 million, while those ranked 17th to 32nd will earn $11 million.

To aid in preparation, FIFA will also provide $1.5 million to each qualified team. This ensures a baseline earning of $10.5 million for all nations that reach the finals, regardless of their performance in the tournament.

The financial rewards escalate significantly for teams progressing through the stages. The eventual World Cup champions will take home $50 million, with the runners-up receiving $33 million. Third and fourth place finishers will earn $29 million and $27 million respectively.

Teams reaching the quarter-finals (5th–8th) will each receive $19 million, and those making it to the round of 16 (9th–16th) will pocket $15 million.

FIFA stated that this expanded financial model demonstrates its commitment to redistributing World Cup revenues more broadly, especially as the tournament grows in both size and global reach.

For Ghana, this means qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is not just a sporting ambition, but a significant economic opportunity – worth at least $10.5 million even before a single match is played.

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