Record Revenues, Bigger World Cup, Higher Prize Money
FIFA is heading into the next men’s World Cup with unprecedented financial muscle. The governing body is projecting around $13 billion (approx. RM59.8 billion) in revenue for the 2023–2026 cycle, of which $9 billion (approx. RM41.4 billion) is expected to come from the expanded tournament in North America. On the back of this boom, FIFA has agreed in principle to increase World Cup 2026 prize money and participation fees after national federations warned that existing payouts were not enough to cover their costs. The current $727 million (approx. RM3.35 billion) prize pool and $50 million (approx. RM230 million) earmarked for the winners are both under review, as is the minimum payment of $10.5 million (approx. RM48.3 million) per team including a $1.5 million (approx. RM6.9 million) preparation allowance. With 48 teams and 104 matches scheduled across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the tournament’s commercial scale will be the largest in World Cup history.
Why Federations Say Playing in North America Could Cost Them Money
Despite the planned increase in World Cup 2026 prize money, several national associations have told FIFA they could still lose money by simply taking part. Their main concern is the cost structure of a geographically vast tournament. Travel and accommodation across three host countries are expected to be far more expensive than in the compact Qatar edition, with teams needing to fly frequently between distant venues and maintain larger delegations for a longer period. On top of that, FIFA has not secured blanket tax exemptions for participating teams. Associations will face different state tax regimes, from 0% in Florida to 13.3% in California, complicating budgeting and potentially eroding any earnings from early exits. Some federations indicated they would need to reach at least the semi-finals just to break even, raising the uncomfortable prospect that the world’s biggest spectacle could be a net financial burden for the majority of teams.
Guardiola’s Warning: When Ticket Prices Push Fans Out
While federations focus on balance sheets, Pep Guardiola has publicly challenged FIFA over what rising FIFA ticket prices mean for ordinary supporters. Citing reports of sharp increases for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, he lamented that a tournament once known as a joyful fan pilgrimage is becoming inaccessible. According to media coverage he referenced, some tickets for major group-stage matches already cost hundreds of dollars, with standard-category seats for the final ranging from about $4,000 (approx. RM18,400) to over $6,000 (approx. RM27,600). Higher categories can exceed $10,000 (approx. RM46,000), and FIFA’s official resale platform has seen certain MetLife Stadium final tickets listed at nearly $2.3 million (approx. RM10.6 million) each. Guardiola’s World Cup criticism is blunt: “Football is for the fans.” His fear is that relentless commercialisation is transforming the World Cup from a popular festival into an elite luxury product.
Big Money, Small Impact? Grassroots Football and the Cost to Fans
FIFA argues that soaring revenues and higher prize money will benefit the wider game. Beyond the tournament payouts, the organisation is preparing to expand funding for its FIFA Forward development programme and increase payments to continental confederations above the previously planned $60 million (approx. RM276 million). In theory, this should support infrastructure, youth academies, and women’s football, particularly in developing nations. Yet for many supporters, the immediate reality is different: football fans’ costs are rising faster than their wages. From escalating match tickets to long-distance travel and accommodation, the sport’s showpiece is drifting out of reach for middle- and lower-income followers. There is also no automatic link between headline prize pools and grassroots pitches in poorer regions; national associations still decide how windfalls are spent. The tension is clear: the World Cup has never generated more money, but that wealth does not automatically translate into more accessible football for the people who sustain it.
What It All Means for Asian and Malaysian Supporters
For Asian fans, and Malaysia football supporters in particular, the North American World Cup presents a mixed picture. On one hand, expanded participation and increased global broadcasting investment should mean abundant viewing options at home, from free-to-air coverage to paid streaming platforms. Local fan zones, late-night public screenings, and commercial viewing parties are likely to remain the most realistic way to experience the tournament atmosphere. On the other hand, travelling to the United States, Canada, or Mexico will be prohibitively expensive for many, even before buying match tickets that can run into hundreds or thousands of dollars. Time-zone differences also mean inconvenient kick-off times, potentially in the early morning. The broader risk is that as on-site experiences become more exclusive, the emotional bond between the World Cup and ordinary Asian fans may depend increasingly on how well broadcasters, sponsors, and local federations invest in inclusive watch parties and grassroots engagement back home.