U.S. men's World Cup prize money split equally with women

The United States men's national soccer team's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign ended with a round-of-16 loss to Belgium on Monday, July 6, but the tournament will yield a significant financial payout that will be shared equally with the U.S. women's national team. Under landmark collective bargaining agreements ratified in 2022, the $16 million in FIFA prize money earned by the men for their tournament performance will be pooled and split between the player pools of both national teams.

U.S. Soccer retains 20 percent of the prize money, or $3.2 million. The remaining $12.8 million is to be divided evenly, with $6.4 million allocated to each team's player pool. Based on 26-player rosters for each squad, this results in approximately $246,000 per player. The women's share will not be distributed immediately, as the U.S. women have not yet qualified for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. The funds designated for the women will be held in an interest-bearing account until after qualification and roster selection, with the accrued interest also split between the two player pools.

This equal distribution mechanism is the direct result of a years-long equal pay fight led by the...