England's Third-Place Finish and Prize Money

By Liam Tremblay — 19 July 2026 — 3 min read

England’s Third-Place Finish and Prize Money

England secured third place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating France in the third-place match. This victory earned England a prize of $29 million. France, as the fourth-place team, received $27 million.

The 2026 World Cup features the largest prize pool in the tournament’s history, with a total of $655 million distributed among the 48 teams. Payouts ranged from $9 million to $50 million, depending on how far each nation advanced in the competition.

The final match, between Spain and defending champion Argentina, will determine the winner of $50 million, while the runner-up will receive $33 million. Each of the 48 teams also received $1.5 million for preparation costs before the tournament began.

Tournament Financials and Participants

The U.S. men’s team earned $16 million for reaching the Round of 16. This prize money is shared with the U.S. women’s team, as per collective bargaining agreements established in 2022. These agreements stipulate that 80% of the money is split among the men’s and women’s players who make the World Cup rosters, with the remaining 20% going to U.S. Soccer.

The tournament’s expanded format, featuring 48 teams, has contributed to its scale. The prize money for the champions has significantly increased over the years, from $2.2 million in 1982 to the $50 million allocated for the 2026 champions.

The 2026 World Cup has seen various teams receive prize money based on their performance:

Champions: $50 million (Spain/Argentina)
Runners-up: $33 million (Spain/Argentina)
3rd place: $29 million (England)
4th place: $27 million (France)
5th-8th place: $19 million (Norway, Belgium, Morocco, Switzerland)
9th-16th place: $15 million (Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, United States, Portugal, Canada, Egypt, Paraguay)
17th-32nd place: $11 million (Netherlands, Germany, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Japan, Australia, DR Congo, Ghana, Ecuador, South Africa, Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Algeria, Senegal, Cabo Verde)
33rd-48th place: $9 million (Iran, South Korea, Türkiye, Scotland, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Czechia, New Zealand, Qatar, Curaçao, Panama, Jordan, Haiti, Uzbekistan, Tunisia, Iraq)

Impact on Stakeholders and Golden Boot Race

The World Cup generates substantial revenue for FIFA, primarily through broadcasting, licensing, hospitality rights, sponsorship deals, and ticket sales. FIFA also engages in the secondary market with its official resale marketplace, taking a 15% fee from both buyer and seller.

Broadcasters and sponsors also benefit from the tournament’s wide reach. For instance, the introduction of hydration breaks has created new commercial opportunities for advertising slots. An average 30-second World Cup advertising slot on Fox reportedly costs between $200,000 and $300,000, reaching up to $750,000 during U.S. matches in the final stages.

The third-place match between France and England also held significance for the Golden Boot race. France forward Kylian Mbappé led with eight goals, tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi. England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham each had six goals, as did France forward Ousmane Dembélé, providing an opportunity for them to contend for the award.