FIFA has confirmed a record-breaking $727m (€620m) prize money fund for next year's World Cup, up 50% from the last finals in Qatar.
The World Cup winners are in line to receive $50m (€43m), with the runner-up receiving $33m (€28m).
Each country will net a guaranteed $10.5m (€9m) for participation at next year's tournament. Failure to emerge from the group stages will still net competing countries $9m (€7.6m), with each qualified team receiving $1.5m (€1.2m) to cover preparation costs.
The announcement comes amid an ongoing row over ticket prices, with fan groups accusing FIFA of failing to go anywhere near far enough to price tickets to the most loyal supporters at a reasonable level.
Fans who are part of national team travel clubs and loyalty schemes discovered last week that the cheapest available tickets for the final would be priced at over €3,400.
However, it was confirmed that 10% of the participant member association (PMA) allocation for each match will be priced at $60 (€51) – including for the final.
The decision follows meetings between senior officials in Doha this week, where federations are understood to have shared concerns about the pricing model.
Ticket prices had jumped five-fold from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, according to FSE.
Early demand is being driven by high-profile group-stage clashes, with Colombia v Portugal in Miami on 27 June the most sought-after fixture so far in the Random Selection Draw period.
Brazil v Morocco (New York/New Jersey, 13 June), Mexico v South Korea (Guadalajara, 18 June), Ecuador v Germany (New York/New Jersey, 25 June) and Scotland v Brazil (Miami, 24 June) round out the top five matches.
If the Republic of Ireland qualify they will face South Korea in Guadalajara on 12 June, South Africa in Atlanta on 18 June and co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City on 25 June.
