Football chief promises extra World Cup bonuses

Chung Mong-gyu, president of the Korea Football Association (KFA), has announced a significant increase in prize money for the national team should they qualify for the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America. This initiative aims to further incentivize the players as they strive to achieve success on the global stage.

The KFA president revealed that additional bonuses will be awarded for each stage the team progresses through in the tournament. Reaching the Round of 32 will earn the team 1 billion Korean won (approximately $720,000 USD), advancing to the Round of 16 will bring 2 billion won ($1.44 million USD), and securing a spot in the quarterfinals will result in a 3 billion won ($2.16 million USD) reward.

Crucially, these substantial additional funds will not come from the KFA's regular budget. Instead, they are to be raised through private donations, ensuring that the association's core finances remain intact. This approach highlights a commitment to maximizing player incentives without straining the organization's resources.

These new bonuses are in addition to the existing reward structure already established by the KFA. Previously, the association had outlined a system that included a base payment of 50 million won per player for qualifying for the World Cup finals. Performance-based incentives were also detailed, with 100 million won awarded for reaching the Round of 32, and incremental increases for further progression. A tiered system for victory bonuses was also introduced, with higher amounts for winning matches in the group stage and subsequent rounds.

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I hope our players, with their fighting spirit that overcomes limits, will once again create a unified Korea through soccer.