World Cup to get cash boost as FIFA unveils red card crackdown

VANCOUVER – FIFA on April 28 boosted overall World Cup cash distributions by US$144 million (S$184 million), nearly 20 per cent, following concerns over the spiralling costs for teams taking part in the tournament.

Football’s global governing body said in a statement that money shared between the 48 teams taking part in the Finals in Mexico, Canada and the United States would now total US$871 million, up from an initial figure of US$727 million announced in December.

The cash injection was announced after a meeting of FIFA’s ruling council ahead of the body’s congress taking place in Vancouver on April 30.

The hefty increase comes after several FIFA members reportedly argued that the high cost of travel, tax and overall operations could result in them losing money from taking part in the tournament.

FIFA moved to alleviate those concerns, hiking an award of US$1.5 million for “preparation costs” to US$2.5 million for each of the qualified teams.

A payment of US$9 million for qualifying for the tournament has also been increased to US$10 million.

Further contributions for team delegation costs and increased team ticketing allocations are also part of the overall increase.

“FIFA is proud to be in its most solid financial position ever, enabling us to help all our member associations in an unprecedented way,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

“This is one more example of how FIFA’s resources are reinvested back into the game.”

FIFA is projected to earn around US$13 billion from the current four-year World Cup cycle, which concludes with the 2026 tournament, the largest World Cup in history.

Its prize money for the June 11-July 11 event, announced last year, had already shattered the cash handed out at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, increasing by 50 per cent.

The increase in cash payments comes with FIFA increasingly under fire for the high cost of tickets to the tournament, while some local authorities in the US have dramatically raised transport costs during the event.

FIFA, meanwhile, also confirmed law changes which will be rolled out at the World Cup, which kicks off in Mexico City on June 11.

Players who cover their mouths during confrontations with opponents will face a red card as part of a new initiative aimed at combating racism.

In a statement following a meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Vancouver on April 28, FIFA confirmed that the rule was one of two law changes that would be introduced at the World Cup.

“At the discretion of the competition organiser, any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card,” FIFA said.

The new rule follows controversy earlier in 2026 when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni was accused of racially abusing Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game in February.

Prestianni was accused of calling 25-year-old Brazilian a “monkey” repeatedly while covering his mouth. The 20-year-old Argentinian denied racially abusing Vinicius but was later banned for six matches – with three of those suspended – for “homophobic conduct”.

In a separate law change announced on April 28 to be enforced at the World Cup, FIFA said that red cards would also be introduced for players leaving the field of play in protest at a referee’s decision.

FIFA also said a team causing a game to be abandoned will forfeit the match.

The move follows the uproar at the Africa Cup of Nations final on Jan 18, when Senegal’s players, head coach Pape Thiaw and his staff walked off the pitch in Rabat after Morocco were awarded a penalty in added time, which forward Brahim Diaz ultimately missed.

Senegal went on to win the final 1-0 in extra time, but were sensationally stripped of the title by the Confederation of African Football in a bombshell decision issued in March.

FIFA has also approved a change to the way sanctions are enforced during the World Cup.

From the 2026 tournament, single yellow cards issued to players in the group stage will be cancelled after the first round and again after the quarter-finals.

The move is aimed at ensuring that star players do not find themselves suspended for crucial games in the tournament after collecting two separate yellow cards. AFP