World Cup 2026: Germany reaches knockout stage as FIFA awards $750 million in prize money

The 2026 FIFA World Cup’s group phase has concluded, confirming the teams advancing to the knockout round. Germany won Group E after a 7‑1 victory over Curaçao and a 2‑1 win against Ivory Coast, securing a place in the round of 16 that begins on 29 June in Foxborough, near Boston. Other group winners and qualifiers include Mexico and South Africa (Group A), Switzerland and Canada (Group B), Brazil and Morocco (Group C), and the United States (Group D). Several third‑placed teams remain in contention for the remaining spots.

FIFA has announced a total prize pool of 683 million Swiss francs for the tournament. Each nation that reaches the round of 16 receives 8.58 million francs, bringing the guaranteed earnings for all 48 participants to about 9.8 million francs before the knockout stage. The champion will collect roughly 39 million francs, rising to 48.8 million francs with start‑up fees. FIFA expects the event to generate 8.6 billion francs in revenue, underscoring the competition’s growing financial magnitude.