FIFA boosts World Cup prize money to $400m
The purse at the previous 2014 World Cup in Brazil was $358 million -- $35 million of which was awarded to champions Germany, with runners-up Argentina pocketing $25 million.
The 32 national teams competing at the 2018 World Cup will share $400 million (344 million euros) in prize money, a 12 percent increase from the 2014 tournament, FIFA said Friday.
The purse at the previous edition in Brazil was $358 million -- $35 million of which was awarded to champions Germany, with runners-up Argentina pocketing $25 million.
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By contrast, countries who failed to advance beyond the group stage received $8 million.
At a meeting of the FIFA council in Kolkata, world football’s governing body also approved a decision to enhance the bidding regulations for the 2026 World Cup and appointed members of the bid evaluation task force.
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Dates for several upcoming FIFA tournaments, including next year’s Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, were also confirmed.
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The 2018 Club World Cup will run from December 12 to 22, while the Women’s World Cup in 2019 is scheduled to start on June 7 with the final to take place on July 7.