The 2018 World Cup champion will get $38M from a prize fund FIFA has increased by 12% to $400M, according to the AP. FIFA said Friday that each of the 32 competing national federations in Russia will get at least $8M, the same as in '14 when the overall prize fund was $358M. Three years ago, World Cup champion Germany received $35M and runner-up Argentina got $25M. Next year, the runner-up will also get a $3M increase to $28M. Following a meeting of the FIFA Council, the governing body said that the third- and fourth-place teams will each get a $2M increase to $24M and $22M, respectively. The quarterfinalists will each get $16M, also a $2M increase, and teams eliminated in the last 16 will get a $3M increase to $12M. The prize fund comes from "World Cup revenues that FIFA has projected to exceed" $5B. Infantino: "Today the doors are open, the revenues come in and the revenues will exceed the budget certainly" (AP, 10/27).
FOR THE FIRST TIME: FIFA and presenting partner EA Sports announced the launch of their global competitive gaming initiative that features a new visual identity and kicks off on Nov. 3. The Road to the FIFA eWorld Cup is built around the new EA Sports FIFA 18 Global Series, the official qualification tournament for the FIFA eWorld Cup Grand Final 18. Competitors can qualify based on their FIFA Ultimate Team Champions Weekend League online performance and at live qualifying events from November through July (FIFA).
