FIFA is one of the biggest sports governing authority and the prize money that it has for its most glorious championship is staggering. What is more interesting is that the total prize money pool for the next FIFA World cup which is set to happen in 2018 is around 22% higher than what it previously was. The next World cup is all set to take place in Russia in 2018 with a lot of prize money involved, no doubt it is getting bigger.
The total prize money pool in 2014’s Brazil World cup was around $576 million. It was distributed among the 32 participant teams and the clubs which lent the players got $70 million in payments. Also, the previous edition winners Germany raked in $35 million for winning the cup whereas Argentina got $25 million for their efforts as runner-ups.
Total prize money and payments pool for FIFA World cup 2018
The World cup that is going to be held in Russia involves 22% higher money which makes it $700 million in total. So, now we clearly know that whoever the winner is, the team is certainly getting anything around $50 million and the teams have something more to play for than mere glory. The amount of money had been previously decided since the 2014 World cup was a huge hit and they wanted this to be even bigger. Despite the corruption charges and wrong doings, the beautiful game will be played with all its glory in 2018. With World cup being its flagship event, FIFA earns around 85% of its revenue out of it.
FIFA WORLD CUP 2018 PRIZE MONEY BREAKDOWN:
| STAGE | 2018 WC PRIZE MONEY | 2014 WC PRIZE MONEY |
| Preparation Fee for 32 qualified teams | $2 million each | $1.5 million each |
| Group Stage (16 eliminated teams) | $10 million each | $8 million each |
| Round of 16 (8 eliminated teams) | $12 million each | $9 million each |
| Quarterfinal (4 losing sides) | $18 million each | $14 million each |
| Fourth Place Team | $25 million | $18 million |
| Third Place Team | $30 million | $20 million |
| Runners-up | $40 million | $25 million |
| Winners | $50 million | $35 million |
| Player Insurance fee | TBA | $100 million |
| player by player payments to parent clubs | TBA | $70 million |
FIFA Revenue Breakup
FIFA’s annual revenue was around $4.8 billion during the year 2014 out of which it made expenses for $2.7 billion which leaves them with a profit of $2.1 billion.
One of the major and highest source of revenue for FIFA is the TV rights, they sold it for $2.4 billion. Sponsorship and commercial rights make another $1.5 billion in revenue. These were the major income sources whereas the costs included the prize money of $576 million, the TV production costs around $370 million and $470 million was spent to organize the massive event in Brazil. A $100 million was given to the Brazilian FA for Legacy payment. Out of the profits of $2.1 billion, only $338 millions are kept as profits and the rest of them are used for developing football around the world.
How much Brazil spent of FIFA world Cup 2014:
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil cost an estimated $11.6 billion. Less than 15% of this cost was covered by private investors, with the rest of the funds coming from federal and state budgets.
Prize money distribution at the 2014 soccer World Cup in Brazil:
| Winner | $35 million |
| Runner-up | $25 m |
| Third Place | $22 m |
| Fourth Place | $20 m |
| Team eliminated in Quarter-Finals | $14 m |
| Round of 16 losers | $9 m |
| First round teams elimintaed | $8 m |
| Participation Fee to all Teams | $1.5 m |
- Germany received 35 million U.S. dollars as the 2014 World Cup Winner which is 5 million U.S. dollars more than Spain received for winning the tournament in South Africa in 2010.
- Each player of the German squad was also awarded a 408,000 U.S. dollars bonus from their national football federation (DFB) for lifting the trophy.
- Each of the 32 nations that reached the finals in Brazil earned at least 8 million U.S. dollars on top of the 1.5 million U.S. dollars which was given to them by FIFA as preparation costs.
