The 2022 FIFA World Cup brought together 32 teams from across the continents to Qatar in order to battle it out for the glory of lifting the grandest prize in football.
The players and national teams were not only playing for pride but also lucrative rewards to those teams which perform best at the tournament.
The champions for this year’s World Cup in Qatar will cash in a whooping US$42 million in prize earnings. Symbolizing an increase of US$4 million compared to the previous tournament in Russia 2018.
FIFA allocated $440 million in prize money for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
This is an increase of $40m compared to the 2018 tournament, while just $358m in prize money was on offer at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Though a very significant sum, FIFA have a revenue budget of $4.6 billion in 2022, with broadcasting rights set to contribute $2.6 billion alone in income.
Teams like Tunisia, Ghana, Cameroon, Qatar and many others that were eliminated at the Group Stage will each receive US$9 million in addition to the US$1.5 million that was paid out to 32 teams that qualified to the biggest football showpiece.
For Senegal that were knocked out via a 3-0 defeat to England in the Round of 16, a US$13 million cool prize will be paid to the West African nation’s football federation.
Africa’s only remaining representative in the Last-8, the Atlas Lions of Morocco who beat 2010 World Cup winners Spain, US$17 million prize money is guaranteed and could be bigger and better if they beat Portugal to reach the semifinals.
The semifinalist will have to fight for the various spots with varied prize monies awarded as follows:
Fourth Place – US$25 million
Third Place – US$27 million
Runner-up – US$30 million
Winner – US$42 million
The FIFA World Cup will now enter the Quarterfinals with the following matches set to keep fans glued to their screen from around the globe:
Friday, 9 December, 2022
Croatia vs Brazil
Netherlands vs Argentina
Saturday, 10 December, 2022
Morocco vs Portugal
France vs England
The prize money can be especially beneficial for smaller nations to help improve their infrastructure and development pathways back home to improve for future editions of the tournament.
FIFA haven’t held back when it comes to prize money for World Cups in recent years, and 2022 is no different — with record-breaking sums up for grabs.