How Much Money Will USMNT, Other World Cup Teams Make in 2026?
The World Cup is a lucrative opportunity for the 48 teams involved in the tournament, with millions of dollars on the line over the next several weeks in North America.
The question is, just how much will each team, including the USMNT, make at the end of this year’s event? Well, that depends.
According to Spotrac, the champion team of the 2026 World Cup will take home $50 million, a hefty chunk of change for whichever country earns FIFA’s top prize. France is currently the favorite to win the tournament as of mid-afternoon on Friday, sitting at +400 according to FanDuel. Then comes Spain (+500), England (+600) and Argentina (+800).
The remaining payouts are as a follows:
- Second place: $33 million
- Third place: $29 million
- Fourth place: $27 million
- Fifth through eighth place: $19 million
- Ninth through 16th place: $15 million
- 17th through 32nd place: $11 million
- 33rd through 48th place $9 million
There are currently 16 unbeaten teams entering Friday’s action, which begins with the USMNT (1-0) taking on Australia (1-0) at 3 p.m. The Americans kicked off the tournament with an inspiring 4-1 win over Paraguay, while Australia is coming off a 2-0 victory over Türkiye.
The USMNT will be without attacking midfielder Christian Pulisic against the Australians as he is dealing with a left calf injury that has left him unavailable for Friday’s match. That could spell bad news for the Americans, who will replace Pulisic with Ricard Pepi. The 23-year-old striker is making his World Cup debut in 2026.
Many American fans and analysts believe this could be the year the USMNT can finally challenge for a World Cup title for the first time in decades. If it is to fulfill those lofty expectations, the depleted USA must keep it rolling with a win over an inferior Australian team in Game 2.
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This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 12:00 PM.