FIFA reveals World Cup opening ceremony details, boosts prize money

FIFA has revealed details about the upcoming World Cup opening ceremony, sharing a video on its Instagram page. The ceremony will precede the match between Mexico and South Africa.

The tournament itself involves 206 member nations participating in qualifying matches from September 2023 to March 2026. A total of 45 national teams will join the three host nations for the month-long event to determine the world's best football team.

FIFA is significantly increasing prize money for the World Cup, allocating $871 million to national associations, almost double the amount from four years ago. Each participating team receives $10 million for successful qualification and an additional $2.5 million for preparation. The winner will receive $50 million, the runner-up $33 million, the third-place team $29 million, and the fourth-place team $27 million. Teams eliminated in the quarterfinals will get $19 million, while those exiting in the round of 16 will receive $15 million.