LONDON, Dec 17 (Bernama-PA media/dpa) — FIFA has confirmed that US$50 million will be up for grabs for the winning nation at next summer’s World Cup, as a row over ticket prices for the tournament rages on, reported PA Media/dpa.
The FIFA Council approved prize money for the tournament at a meeting in Doha on Wednesday, with the overall fund available to competing nations set at US$727 million, up 50 per cent from the 2022 finals in Qatar.
Each nation will receive US$1.5 million from FIFA in preparation costs and at least a further US$9 million for competing in the group stage.
The confirmation comes as fan groups accused FIFA of playing “PR games” over ticket prices.
Football’s world governing body announced on Tuesday that US$60 tickets would be made available through the allocations national associations sell to their most loyal fans, following widespread criticism of FIFA’s initial pricing revealed last week.
However, only 10 per cent of tickets within this allocation will be available at this price. For the England v Croatia match, for example, it would benefit around 400 out of the more than 4,000 fans able to buy tickets through the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) allocation.
For the remainder, tickets will start at US$230 for that opening match, and at an eye-watering US$4,185 for the final.
— BERNAMA-PA MEDIA/dpa