The winner will receive $51 million and the runner-up $34 million as FIFA expands payouts for the 48-team tournament, while World Cup trading helps drive heavy volumes on Kalshi and Polymarket.
FIFA has expanded the 2026 World Cup payout to a record $871 million across the 48 participating teams, with the champion set to earn $51 million and the runner-up $34 million. Every qualified team is set to receive at least $9 million to $12.5 million, and the enlarged fund marks a sharp increase from the $655 million prize pool FIFA’s Council approved in December 2025, with the extra $216 million directed toward stronger preparation and performance allocations. The increase comes as the tournament grows from 32 to 48 teams, a change that brings more matches, broadcast revenue and sponsor exposure. The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. World Cup-related speculation has also fueled activity in prediction markets. Kalshi, a CFTC-regulated U.S. platform, exceeded $31 billion in trading volume in June 2026, while Polymarket, a decentralized platform built on Polygon, reached $10.8 billion in the same month, with the combined total described as being driven largely by World Cup betting contracts. Prediction markets allow traders to buy and sell contracts tied to event outcomes, with Polymarket settling trades on-chain and Kalshi operating within U.S. regulatory frameworks.