The victory of Spain in 2026 FIFA World Cup not only did he bring the nation’s second national title. It also secured the largest financial prize awarded to a World Cup winning team after FIFA increased the tournament’s prize money for registration.Luis de la Fuente’s team defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the New York New Jersey Stadium, with Ferran Torres scoring the big goal in the 106th minute. The victory earned the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) the highest award of $51 million from FIFA.According to reports, each of the Spanish players will receive a large part of the award under the bonus arrangement previously agreed between the team management and the RFEF.
How much will each Spanish player earn?
FIFA will issue a single fine once their World Cup campaign ends, the amount of which is determined by their final position rather than the finish of each tournament.By the end of the World Cup, Spain had already guaranteed RFEF $34 million.Under the agreement reported by AS, 40 percent of the guaranteed income would have been paid to the players. That would create a clubhouse bonus pool of around $13.6 million, which amounts to just $523,000 for each member of Spain’s 26-man squad before tax.Winning the World Cup, however, greatly increased those numbers.After lifting the trophy, the Spanish players received 45% of the FIFA winners’ prize.This means that approximately $22.95 million will be divided between the 26 players, and each team member is expected to receive $882,700 before taxes, according to AS.The remaining FIFA prize money will remain with the RFEF, which will use part of the windfall to cover the cost of Spain’s World Cup campaign and benefit from one of the most profitable tournaments in its history.
Argentina will receive the final prize
Although Argentina failed to retain the World Cup after Ferran Torres’ extra-time winner, Lionel Scaloni’s side will still receive a final payment.FIFA has awarded $34 million to the Argentina Football Association for finishing second.Unlike Spain, however, no official information has yet been released about how the prize money will be distributed among Argentina’s 26 players.
Argentina walk on the field after losing during the World Cup final match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Collect prize money throughout the tournament
The 2026 World Cup had the largest prize fund in the competition’s history, with FIFA increasing the total prize money by almost 50 percent compared to previous records.Prizes based on last place are as follows:
- Winners – Spain: $51 million
- Winners – Argentina: $34 million
- Third place – England: $30 million
- Fourth place – France: $28 million
- Finalists (5th-8th): Switzerland, Norway, Belgium, Morocco: $20 million each
- Round of 16 (9th-16th): Colombia, Egypt, United States, Portugal, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay and Canada: $16 million each
- Final 32 (17-32): Ghana, Algeria, Australia, Cape Verde, Austria, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Senegal, DR Congo, Ecuador, Sweden, Ivory Coast, Netherlands, Germany, Japan and South Africa: $12 million each
- Group (33-48): Uruguay, Scotland, South Korea, Iran, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Curaçao, Czech Republic, Qatar, Panama, Jordan, Tunisia, New Zealand, Haiti and Turkey: $10 million each
These performance-based payments account for $703 million of FIFA’s total revenue of $871 million.The remaining $168 million is distributed among the participating organizations regardless of where they end up, ensuring that each country receives financial support to participate in the biggest soccer tournament.For Spain, however, the win offered more than just a World Cup trophy. On the other hand in the history of football, each member of the team is expected to receive one of the biggest bonuses ever given to the Spanish national team, which reflects the prize fund of FIFA and the agreement that these players have made with the RFEF.
