The U.S. men's national soccer team earned $16 million in prize money from FIFA for reaching the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they were eliminated by Belgium. This prize money will be evenly split between the 26 players on the men's roster and the 26 women selected for the 2027 Women's World Cup, contingent upon their qualification.
Equal Prize Money for U.S. Soccer Teams
The decision to equally share World Cup prize money between the men's and women's national teams was formalized in collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) ratified by U.S. Soccer in 2022. This agreement came after a prolonged fight for equal pay by the women's national team, which lasted nearly six years and included legal action against the federation.
Under the terms of these agreements, U.S. Soccer will retain 20% of the prize money, while the remaining 80% is distributed equally among the players of both teams. This means each team will receive $6.4 million, translating to approximately $246,153.85 per player.
Future Implications for Women's World Cup
The same financial distribution model will apply to the prize money from the 2027 Women's World Cup, assuming the U.S. women successfully qualify. However, they must defeat El Salvador on November 27 in a crucial Concacaf quarterfinal match to secure their spot.
