US Soccer is distributing $16 million in FIFA World Cup prize money equally between the men’s and women’s national teams. It’s the first major payout under the collective bargaining agreements ratified in 2022, and it turns what was once a lawsuit-fueled battle into actual direct deposits.
The US Men’s National Team earned the $16 million by reaching the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup before being eliminated. Under the equal-pay framework, that money doesn’t just stay with the men. It gets split down the middle.
How the money breaks down
Here’s the math. US Soccer retains 20% of the total prize money, which works out to $3.2 million. The remaining 80%, or $12.8 million, gets divided equally between eligible players on both the men’s and women’s rosters.
With 26 players from each team qualifying for a share, that’s 52 players total. Each one is set to receive approximately $246,154.
