FIFA dishing out $51 million to the winners of this years World Cup under expanded purse

The winner of the World Cup will hoist a trophy, receive championship rings for the first time and gain a lifetime of glory in what will be a defining moment in the country’s sports history.It’ll also lead to a significant payday.The World Cup winner earns $51 million.

The second prize is $34 million.FIFA expanded the payout for the 2026 World Cup, setting a record with a combined $871 million paid to the 48 participating teams.That tally includes more than $100 million that was added in April after some federations in Europe lobbied for help to cover costs at a tournament across three countries that has required extensive travel and lodging costs.The $51 million for either Argentina or Spain is a large sum, but it also pales in comparison to the fortunes that are spent on global soccer.

It’s also smaller than what last year’s Club World Cup winner earned in a tournament also played in the U.S.For perspective, the $51 million for the winner is less than the transfer fee paid Tuesday by English club Brighton for a 19-year-old defender who spent most of the World Cup on the bench, Croatia’s Luka Vušković.Here’s what to know about the World Cup prize money:FIFA pays money to the 48 national federations in two categories: Prize money bonuses based on how far each team advances in the tournament and across-the-board payments to cover training and preparation costs.All 48 get at least $12.5 million for competing in the World Cup, including $10 million in prize money for qualifying and playing in the group stage.Each receives $2.5 million for pre-tournament training and expenses.

That upfront money was agreed at past World Cups to help avoid pre-tournament tensions when it wasn’t uncommon for players to claim that bonuses had not been paid by their federation.The prize money goes up depending on how far the teams advance.Some federations, especially from Europe, had told FIFA that the prize money structure and payments for preparation costs that had been...