The Korea Football Association announced on Monday record-breaking prize money and support standards for the national team competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup [1, 2].
The move aims to motivate players to surpass the best-ever result achieved by the national team during an away World Cup [1, 2].
Under the new guidelines, each player included in the final 26-man squad will receive a basic allowance of 50 million KRW [2]. This represents a significant increase from the 20 million KRW basic allowance provided during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, an increase of 30 million KRW per person [2].
The association is also implementing a performance-based reward system where payouts increase as the team advances to higher rounds [1]. For example, players will receive a bonus of 100 million KRW each if the team reaches the round of 32 [2].
An official from the Korea Football Association said the payment plan was developed to reflect changes in the tournament format, including the expansion from 32 to 48 participating nations and the creation of a round of 32 tournament [1].
"We have strengthened the 'performance-proportional reward system' so that more rewards are received as the team wins in higher rounds," the official said [1].
The official also said the overall budget for the prize money has been significantly increased [1].
“The association is implementing a 'performance-proportional reward system' where payouts increase as the team advances.”
The KFA's decision to either more than double the base pay and introduce specific milestones for the expanded 48-team format suggests a strategic effort to align player incentives with the new tournament structure. By shifting toward a performance-proportional model, the association is placing a higher financial premium on deep tournament runs rather than mere participation.
