Along with silverware and pride, there is plenty of prize money on the line at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
While most teams’ focus will be on lifting the prestigious trophy and representing their nations well, there is definitely a tangible benefit to success on the pitch.
The prize money can be particularly beneficial for smaller nations to improve their infrastructure and development pathways back home to help improve future editions of the tournament.
FIFA has not held back when it comes to prize money for the World Cup in recent years, and 2022 is no different – with record-breaking sums for captures.
Here, The Sporting News breaks down the prize money on offer in Qatar and how much each team could win.
Total prize money in the 2022 World Cup
FIFA has allocated $440 million in prize money for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
This is an increase of $40 million compared to the 2018 tournament, while only $358 million was offered in prize money at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Although a very significant sum, FIFA has a revenue budget of $4.6 billion in 2022, with broadcasting rights set to contribute only $2.6 billion in revenue.
How much prize money will the 2022 World Cup winners receive?
FIFA confirmed in April 2022 that Qatar’s World Cup champions will receive a record $42 million in prize money.
This is an increase of $4m compared to 2018 and continues a trend that has seen winners’ pay packets rise massively over the past 40 years.
Prior to 2006, World Cup winning teams could not pocket more than $10 million, with 1982 champions Italy walking away with an estimated $2.2 million for their efforts.
In 2002, a proposal for FIFA to increase prize money was a major push from national teams, with increased World Cup revenues ensuring that such profits were transferred to successful parties.
| Prize money (USD) | Year |
| $42m | 2022 |
| $38m | 2018 |
| $35m | 2014 |
| $30m | 2010 |
| $20m | 2006 |
| $8m | 2002 |
| $6m | 1998 |
| $4m | 1994 |
| $3.5m | 1990 |
| $2.8m | 1986 |
| $2.2m | 1982 |
World Cup 2022 prize money breakdown: How much will each team earn?
With so much prize money on offer, every side will be very rich from Qatar.
Qualifying for the 2022 World Cup alone would see each team pay a $1.5 million participation fee. But once in the tournament, sides can make much larger sums by progressing through the knockout stages.
Based on a breakdown of prize money revealed by FIFA, teams reaching the semi-finals in Qatar will see more earnings than the 2006 World Cup winners received.
| Prize money (USD) | 2022 Finish |
| $9m | Group stage |
| $13m | Round of 16 |
| $17m | Quarterfinals |
| $25m | Fourth place |
| $27m | Third place |
| $30m | Runner-up |
| $42m | Winner |
Qatar 2022 – Income per nation
| Prize Money at Qatar 2022 (USD) | Nation |
| $9m | Ecuador |
| $9m | Qatar |
| $9m | Iran |
| $9m | Wales |
| $9m | Mexico |
| $9m | Saudi Arabia |
| $9m | Tunisia |
| $9m | Denmark |
| $9m | Germany |
| $9m | Costa Rica |
| $9m | Belgium |
| $9m | Canada |
| $9m | Cameroon |
| $9m | Serbia |
| $9m | Uruguay |
| $9m | Ghana |
| $13m | USA |
| $13m | Australia |
| $13m | Japan |
| $13m | South Korea |
| $13m | Senegal |
| $13m | Poland |
| $13m | Spain |
| $13m | Switzerland |
| $17m | Netherlands |
| $17m | Brazil |
| $17m | England |
| $17m | Portugal |
How much do players earn in the World Cup?
As a core part of any successful team, players also benefit financially by featuring in the World Cup.
While the base salary is different for national teams and different players, they get a share of whatever prize money goes away from their team.
FIFA allows each team to decide what share players get, and Germany in 2006 promised each of their players a $400,000 bonus if they won the title on home soil.
In 2022, it has been reported that Australia will pay each of its players AU$226,000 with an additional $290,000 if they reach the knockout stages.
Other nations are likely to offer their players slightly more or less than this amount, depending on the financial situation of each association.
How does the 2022 World Cup prize money compare to the 2023 Women’s World Cup?
FIFA had earlier announced that the total prize money for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand would be $60 million.
Although seven times less than what will be offered in Qatar 2022, it is more than double the estimated $30m awarded to women’s teams at the 2019 tournament.
That World Cup bid itself was double the $15m contributed by FIFA to the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada.
The ABC reported in July that FIFA could increase the prize money on offer for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, with the figure set at $100 million.
In May, the United States men’s and women’s teams agreed to share the combined prize money they won at the 2022 and 2023 World Cups.
“This is a truly historic moment. These deals have forever changed the game here in the United States and have the potential to change the game around the world,” U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlo-Cohn said at the time.
“US Soccer and the USWNT and USMNT players reset their relationship with these new agreements and move us into an incredibly exciting new phase of mutual growth and collaboration as we continue our mission to be the premier sport in the United States.”