Historic financial windfall: African nations guaranteed $10.5 million each for 2026 World Cup participation

A significant financial windfall awaits the nine African nations participating in the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, with each team receiving a payment of $10.5 million.

This historic financial commitment from FIFA aims to bolster football development across the continent as Africa sends its largest-ever contingent to the global showpiece, co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

The guaranteed amount comprises $9 million in base prize money for teams finishing 33rd to 48th, in addition to a crucial $1.5 million per nation to cover essential preparation expenses and tournament logistics.

The overall prize pool for the tournament is a record $655 million, a substantial increase from previous editions, reflecting the expanded 48-team format.

This financial injection is expected to provide African football federations with unprecedented resources to prepare their teams and infrastructure, building on Morocco’s historic semi-final appearance in 2022.

Nine African teams have secured direct qualification, with a potential tenth spot still available via an intercontinental playoff tournament. The qualified nations and their respective group placements for the final tournament are:

• Algeria: Group C
• Cape Verde: Group H
• Egypt: Group G
• Ghana: Group L
• Ivory Coast: Group F
• Morocco: Group E
• Senegal: Group J
• South Africa: Group A
• Tunisia: Group I

This structural financial support from the global football governing body underscores a commitment to making participation in the world’s most-watched sporting event more equitable and rewarding for all confederations, particularly those from Africa, enabling greater investment in the beautiful game.