How much money will Uzbekistan earn by qualifying for the World Cup?

At the upcoming World Cup to be held next summer across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the total prize pool for national teams will amount to 896 million dollars. This is an all-time record. So how much money can Uzbekistan’s national team earn by participating in the tournament?

Around this time next year, Uzbek football fans will witness the realization of a long-awaited dream: the national team will debut at the World Cup. Kun.uz focused on the financial side of this debut: how much income will participation in the most prestigious football competition bring to Uzbekistan?

How much was paid to national teams at the last World Cup?

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the total amount of prize money given to national teams was 440 million dollars — the highest recorded at the time. Three years ago, the distribution per team was as follows:

- Teams eliminated in the group stage – $9 million;
- Round of 16 participants – $13 million;
- Quarterfinalists – $17 million;
- 4th place (Morocco) – $25 million;
- 3rd place (Croatia) – $27 million;
- 2nd place (France) – $30 million;
- World champion (Argentina) – $42 million.

Additionally, each national team was given $1.5 million for tournament preparation.

Besides that, FIFA paid compensation to clubs who sent players to the World Cup. At the Qatar tournament, this compensation totaled $209 million and was distributed among more than 400 clubs. Each club received approximately $10,000 per player per day. The amount was shared among all clubs the player had played for over the previous two years.

A new record will be set

The 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico will, for the first time in history, feature 48 teams instead of 32. The teams will be divided into 12 groups of four. Each group’s top two teams and the eight best third-placed teams will advance to the next stage. As a result, the total number of matches will increase from 64 to 104.

The total prize fund will be $896 million — double that of Qatar. However, the precise distribution is not yet confirmed. According to some unofficial reports, teams eliminated in the group stage may receive $13 million, and those knocked out in the round of 16 — $17 million.

What are Uzbekistan’s chances?

Before the group draw, all teams are seeded into four pots based on the latest FIFA rankings. Uzbekistan is currently ranked 55th and will likely be placed in pot 3 or 4. According to the regulations, Asian teams cannot be in the same group. Thus, Uzbekistan will definitely face a European team in its group. There is also a 75% chance of drawing an African team. The third opponent could come from Oceania, South America, or North America.

Since the FIFA ranking also depends on friendly matches, Uzbekistan’s recent victory over Qatar carries significant weight. Continued success in warm-up matches will be beneficial.

Overall, the Uzbekistan Football Association is expected to earn a minimum of $10 million from World Cup participation. If the team reaches the knockout rounds, this amount will increase significantly. An additional $1.5 million will be granted for preparations.

Moreover, leading domestic clubs will also benefit from FIFA’s compensation. For instance, four players from Pakhtakor were called up for the final qualifying rounds. If there are no major changes in the roster, the club could receive several hundred thousand dollars.

The tournament in North America will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Doston Akhrorov