By Marta Elena Casanova
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Index
When we think of the European Championship or the World Cup, we picture glory, emotions, and legendary goals. But behind every victory and international success lies a powerful economic engine. Men’s national football teams don’t just play for pride: participating in these tournaments means earning millions. So, how much do national teams actually earn from the big international competitions?
Euro prize money: staggering figures
Let’s start with the most recent tournament: Euro 2024 in Germany. UEFA allocated €331 million in total prize money for the 24 participating teams. Each national team received €9.25 million just for qualifying for the group stage. On top of that, they earned performance bonuses for wins and progression.
The winning team could take home up to €28.25 million, if they won all matches — a tempting prize that plays a significant role in federation budgets.
Who earned the most in recent Euros? From 2004 to 2020, estimates show:
- Spain: about €82.6 million
- Italy: around €78.9 million, boosted by the 2021 victory
- Portugal: €78.7 million, thanks to their 2016 triumph
These numbers reflect both sporting excellence and the efficiency of a system that rewards deep runs.
FIFA World Cup: the real gold mine
If the Euros are rich, the FIFA World Cup is a financial gold mine. In 2022, in Qatar, FIFA distributed $440 million in prize money. Each team that qualified received $8 million for just reaching the group stage. The prizes increase at each stage:
- $13 million for the Round of 16
- $17 million for the Quarterfinals
- $25 million for the runner-up
- $30 million for the champion
Argentina took the top prize in 2022. Even teams that exited early — like Qatar, the host — received a million-dollar payout.
Between 2019 and 2022, FIFA generated $7.6 billion in revenue, mostly from broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and marketing. About 70% of that was redistributed to member federations.
How do federations spend the money?
The prize money goes to the national football federations, which decide how to allocate it. A portion is given to players as bonuses, but most is reinvested: training centers, youth academies, coaching staff, development programs, and even artificial pitches for football schools.
For many nations — especially outside Europe — participation in the World Cup or Euros is a crucial source of funding.
What if a team is eliminated early?
Even an early exit brings financial rewards. At the World Cup, being knocked out in the group stage still pays $8 million — more than some federations’ annual budgets. At the Euros, simply qualifying is worth €9.25 million. A strong incentive to push hard in qualifying rounds.
The future
With TV rights increasing and markets expanding in Asia and the Americas, prize money will only grow. UEFA and FIFA aim to make these tournaments even more global and profitable. National teams are preparing to reap the rewards: more exposure, more sponsors, more cash.
By Marta Elena Casanova
