Football’s world governing body FIFA has announced a 15% increase in payments for all 48 teams participating in upcoming international tournaments hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
As part of the new structure, preparation money for each national team has been increased from $1.5 million to $2.5 million. Qualification compensation has also been raised from $9 million to $10 million. In addition, financial support for team delegation expenses and increased ticket allocations will rise by more than $16 million.
FIFA confirmed that any remaining additional revenue will be distributed among its 211 member associations.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the organization is in its strongest financial position ever, adding that these funds are being reinvested to support global football development.
Key Governance and Competition Updates
FIFA also approved several major changes and decisions:
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The Afghan Women’s Refugee Team will be allowed to participate in official FIFA competitions following a governance amendment.
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For the FIFA World Cup 2026, single yellow cards will now be cleared after the group stage and again after the quarter-finals.
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Armenia and Georgia have been selected to host the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2029.
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Miami, United States, will host the final phase of the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup from January 27 to 31.
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The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026 will be held in Qatar from November 19 to December 13.
International Calendar Announcements
FIFA also confirmed major tournament dates for upcoming competitions:
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AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027: January 7 – February 5, 2027
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Concacaf Gold Cup 2027: June 19 – July 11, 2027
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CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2027: June 19 – July 17, 2027
FIFA Presidency Election Timeline
According to FIFA Statutes, the presidential election for the 2027–2031 term will be held at the 77th FIFA Congress in 2027. The electoral process will begin on April 30, 2026.
FIFA says these changes aim to strengthen global football development, improve fairness, and expand opportunities for all member nations.
