How Much USMNT Players Could Earn at the 2026 World Cup

USMNT's World Cup Earnings Breakdown for 2026

The U.S. men’s national team is set to earn significant sums during the 2026 World Cup, no matter how far they progress in the tournament.

FIFA recently increased the financial distribution for the upcoming World Cup, providing each participating federation with $12.5 million. This amount includes $10 million for qualifying and $2.5 million for preparations, both figures higher than originally promised.

Beyond this guaranteed payment, teams receive additional prize money based on their performance. The champion takes home $50 million, the runner-up gets $33 million, and even teams that exit in the group stage earn $9 million, according to USA Today.

The funds go directly to the federations, which decide how much players receive. The U.S. Soccer Federation made history with collective bargaining agreements signed in 2022 that equalized pay between the men's and women's national teams through 2028. This includes sharing FIFA World Cup earnings.

Prize money from the 2026 men’s and 2027 women’s World Cups will be pooled. From this pool, 20% stays with the federation, while the remaining 80% splits evenly among the 52 players (26 men and 26 women). This means USMNT players share their World Cup earnings with USWNT members, and vice versa for the following year.

Estimated Earnings Per USMNT Player Based on Performance

If the $12.5 million guaranteed payout plus any performance-based sum is considered “World Cup prize money” under the agreement, the collective payout could be quite substantial.

Even if the USMNT only reaches the group stage—something less likely after their strong 4–1 win over Paraguay—they would earn a total of $21.5 million ($12.5 million plus $9 million). Eighty percent of that goes to players, equating to roughly $330,500 each.

Exiting in the round of 32 would net players around $361,500 apiece. A round of 16 finish, historically common for the USMNT, would bring about $423,000 per player. Reaching the quarterfinals—a rare achievement in recent times—would raise the per-player payout to approximately $484,500.

Should the team manage to win the tournament on July 19, each player could earn nearly $1 million.

According to the CBA, each USMNT player on the roster receives an additional $10,000 per World Cup match, adding up to $30,000 across the group stage.

The players also benefit from revenue sharing related to World Cup merchandise and sponsorship deals. If U.S. Soccer’s revenue falls between $55 million and $75 million, players get 10%. That share rises to 15% if revenue exceeds $75 million, split evenly between men and women.

This payout model could significantly boost incomes for many players. For instance, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter earns $480,000 annually with MLS’s Vancouver Whitecaps but might more than double that this summer. Goalkeeper Matt Freese’s guaranteed salary with New York City FC sits at $795,833.

Final Thoughts

Regardless of the tournament outcome, USMNT players stand to gain financially in ways that might change their careers. Their combined earnings, shared with their female counterparts, reflect a new era of pay equality and opportunity.