World Cup
Nigeria’s World Cup Qualification Protest Now Blown Open
Nigeria have submitted a petition to FIFA alleging the Democratic Republic of Congo fielded ineligible players in their African qualification play-off for next year’s World Cup, a federation (NFF) spokesperson said.
FIFA World Cup – CAF Qualifiers – Playoffs – Final – Nigeria v Democratic Republic of Congo – Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat, Morocco – November 16, 2025. Democratic Republic of Congo players line up during a penalty shootout REUTERS/Abdelmjid Rizkou
DR Congo beat Nigeria on penalties last month to keep alive their hopes of appearing at the tournament in North America, and are set to compete in an inter-confederation playoff in March where six teams will chase two places at the 48-team finals.
The NFF said several dual-nationality players had been cleared to play for DR Congo without meeting the required criteria.
“The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual nationality,” NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi told reporters.
“There are so many of them that have European passports, some of them French passports, some of them Dutch passports.
“FIFA regulations say once you have the passport of your country, you are eligible. As far as we are concerned, they are eligible that is why they are cleared by FIFA.
“But our contention is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them because it is not the responsibility of FIFA to make sure that the regulations of Congo are abided by.
“FIFA goes by its own regulations, and it was on the basis of what was presented to FIFA that they cleared them.
“But we are saying that it was fraudulent.”
DR Congo’s federation rejected the allegations.
“If you cannot win on the pitch, then do not try to win from the back door,” the Congolese Football Federation (Fecofa) said in a social media post.
“The World Cup has to be played with dignity and confidence. Not with lawyers tricks. Bring it on.”
FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside of business hours.
The World Cup will in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
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-Reuters
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By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has carried a high financial cost, with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) missing out on a guaranteed minimum of USD 10.5 million following FIFA’s approval of a record USD 655 million prize money pool for the tournament.
FIFA confirmed that every one of the 48 teams that qualify for the expanded World Cup in North America will receive USD 1.5 million in preparation funds, in addition to a minimum participation payout of USD 9 million for teams finishing between 33rd and 48th place.
This ensures that each participating Member Association earns at least USD 10.5 million simply for qualifying.
Nigeria’s absence from the tournament means the NFF will receive none of these funds, a significant blow at a time when many African federations rely heavily on FIFA competitions to support national team programmes, grassroots development and administrative costs.
Beyond the guaranteed participation fee, deeper progression at the World Cup would have offered Nigeria the chance to earn far more.
Teams reaching the round of 16 will earn USD 15 million, while those advancing to the quarter-finals collect USD 19 million. The champions will receive USD 50 million, with runners-up pocketing USD 33 million.
The loss goes beyond prize money. World Cup qualification typically boosts commercial revenue through sponsorships, broadcast exposure and merchandising, while also strengthening a federation’s negotiating power with partners.
Nigeria, a three-time African champion and one of the continent’s most marketable football brands, will miss out on the global visibility that comes with participation in football’s biggest event.
The financial setback also has implications for youth and grassroots development. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has stressed that revenues from the World Cup are being reinvested into global football, including the introduction of new U-15 festival-style tournaments for boys and girls from 2026.
Federations competing at the World Cup are often better positioned to leverage such programmes and funding opportunities.
For the NFF, the missed opportunity underscores the growing cost of failure to qualify for major tournaments in an era of expanding FIFA revenues.
With the 2026 World Cup offering unprecedented financial rewards, Nigeria’s absence represents not only a sporting disappointment but also a major economic loss for the country’s football ecosystem.
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By Kunle Solaja.
FIFA has approved a record-breaking prize money distribution of USD 655 million for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking a 50 per cent increase on the previous edition and underlining the governing body’s intention to significantly boost football development worldwide.
Under the new structure for the expanded 48-team tournament, the champions will receive USD 50 million, while runners-up will earn USD 33 million. Teams finishing third and fourth will take home USD 29 million and USD 27 million, respectively.
Sides placed between fifth and eighth will each receive USD 19 million, while teams eliminated in the round of 16 (9th–16th) will earn USD 15 million. Those finishing between 17th and 32nd place will be paid USD 11 million each, while teams ranked 33rd to 48th will receive USD 9 million.
In addition to performance-based rewards, each qualified team will be paid USD 1.5 million to cover preparation costs. This guarantees every participating Member Association a minimum of USD 10.5 million simply for qualifying for the tournament.
“The FIFA World Cup 2026 will also be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.
Beyond the World Cup, the FIFA Council also confirmed the introduction of new FIFA U-15 festival-style tournaments for boys and girls, open to all 211 FIFA Member Associations, as part of a renewed push to strengthen youth development.
The first edition, featuring boys’ teams, will be staged in 2026, followed by a girls’ tournament in 2027. From 2028 onwards, Member Associations will be invited to participate in both boys’ and girls’ U-15 competitions annually.
To suit the developmental needs of young players, matches will be shorter, played on smaller pitches, and feature teams of between seven and nine players per side.
“In recent years, FIFA has stepped up its efforts to boost youth football, the results of which are plain for all to see,” Infantino said. “This is a natural next step and a very joyous one. Having FIFA U-15 festivals for boys and girls will be fundamental in FIFA’s quest to give every talent a chance all over the world.”
In another key decision, the FIFA Council approved the establishment of a post-conflict recovery fund, aimed at supporting football development in regions affected by conflict. The move follows an announcement made by Infantino at the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace in October 2025, where FIFA pledged to create a mechanism to help rebuild football structures in post-conflict environments.
The combined measures reinforce FIFA’s strategy of reinvesting World Cup revenues into prize money, youth development and football’s broader social role across the globe.
The World Cup Dollar Pot
- Champions: USD 50 million
- Runners-up: USD 33 million
- 3rd place: USD 29 million
- 4th place: USD 27 million
- 5th-8th place: USD 19 million
- 9th-16th place: USD 15 million
- 17th- 32nd place: USD 11 million
- 33rd-48th place: USD 9 million
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FIFA has slashed the price of some World Cup tickets and introduced a new $60 category for loyal supporters following a global backlash over the cost of attending the tournament in North America.
In a statement on Tuesday, world football’s governing body said the $60 tickets will be available for every match at the expanded 48-team World Cup, including the final, and will be allocated to national football federations whose teams qualify for the tournament. The federations will decide how the tickets are distributed, targeting fans who have consistently followed their national teams at home and abroad.
FIFA described the new category as a “Supporter Entry Tier”, though the number of tickets available for each match is expected to run into the hundreds rather than thousands.
The decision marks a dramatic shift from FIFA’s original ticketing strategy, under which fans could be asked to pay as much as $4,185 for premium seats at the final. FIFA did not directly acknowledge the backlash but said the lower prices were “designed to further support travelling fans following their national teams across the tournament”.
The World Cup, to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is expected to generate at least $10 billion in revenue for FIFA. However, anger erupted last week when ticket prices were revealed, showing that participating teams had no allocation in the lowest-priced category.
Under the initial plan, the cheapest tickets ranged from $120 to $265 for group-stage matches not involving the three co-hosts. That approach appeared to contradict assurances given during the 2018 bidding process, when the North American hosts pledged that hundreds of thousands of tickets would be sold for as little as $21.
Criticism, particularly from European supporters, had been mounting for months over FIFA’s proposed use of “dynamic pricing” and additional fees on a FIFA-operated resale platform — practices familiar in the U.S. entertainment industry but unpopular with traditional football fans.
Fan frustration intensified when it emerged that supporters reserving tickets for all potential matches involving their team, up to and including the final, would not receive refunds for unused games until after the tournament had ended.
In a further concession announced on Tuesday, FIFA said it would waive its administrative fees on all refunds issued after the July 19 final.
The changes represent a partial climbdown by FIFA as it seeks to calm discontent among supporters ahead of what will be the largest and most commercially ambitious World Cup in history.
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