The Ecuadorian Football Federation requested a correction from El Universo over a report that Ecuador secured 23.5 million dollars in 2026 World Cup prize money. On July 1, the news portal published an article stating that Ecuador closed the tournament with the highest prize figure in its World Cup history.
In a letter sent to the media outlet, the federation, also known as Ecuafútbol, stated that the headline and content were incorrect. The organization explained that the publication erroneously added independent amounts corresponding to different FIFA concepts.
Breakdown of World Cup Payments
Ecuafútbol specified that Ecuador earned 11.5 million dollars in sporting prize money for reaching the round of 32. The federation noted that FIFA amounts for each stage are not cumulative, so the 10 million dollars for the group stage cannot be added to the round of 32 reward.
Additionally, the body stated that the 1.5 million dollars received for preparation is not a profit. The funds cover team preparation and participation costs, including sports, logistics, medical, administration, transport, lodging, food, security, and staff expenses, which total more than the allocation provided.
Consequently, the federation said it is incorrect to report that Ecuador received 23.5 million dollars in prizes or that such an amount is available to distribute.
