The winners of the 2014 FIFA World Cup will receive $38.61 million (AUD) in prize money, the governing body announced on Thursday.
Total contributions for the 32 participants in the tournament have increased by 37 per cent from 2010, with the champions poised to pocket $5 million more than Spain did following their victory in South Africa.
The rise in prize money will see a total of $635 million paid out to the teams, compared to $460 million at the previous World Cup.
The runners-up will receive $27 million, with the sides who finish third and fourth set to pocket $24 million and $22 million respectively.
Quarter-finalists will collect $15 million each, while the round of 16 participants will be handed $10 million.
Sides eliminated in the group stage will earn $8.8 million, with every team receiving a payment of $1.65 million for preparation costs.
Brazil preparations a little slow
While the prize money has been divided out, the host city has been under pressure to get building works completed well before the June start date. FIFA’s deadline for the completion is December 31, 2013, but Brazil has admitted three stadiums won’t be ready by deadline. One of the stadiums, Arena Corinthians stadium in Sao Paulo, was where two workers were killed last week when a crane collapsed on the roof of one of the stands.
Another stadium yet to be completed is Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, which was supposed to have a retractable roof but that project has since been abandoned.
FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke says they are not panicking about the stadiums, but are looking to solve problems as soon a possible.
“We are not in a crisis mood, looking at an alternative to Sao Paulo today. But Curitiba is facing the most problems and clearly won’t be delivered before February 2014,” he said this week.
Brazil is using 12 stadiums for the finals, four more than originally stipulated by FIFA. The first six were ready in time to stage matches in June and July at the Confederations Cup, effectively the World Cup test event.