The U.S. men’s national team earned $16 million in prize money from FIFA after being eliminated in the 2026 World Cup round of 16 with a 4-1 loss to Belgium. The prize money will be shared equally between the 26 men on the roster and the 26 women on the 2027 U.S. Women’s World Cup team, should they qualify. Under terms of the 2022 collective bargaining agreements, U.S. Soccer retains 20% of the prize money, with the remaining 80% split evenly between men and women players. This results in $246,153.85 per player.

Equal Pay Agreements and the Road Ahead

The equal distribution of prize money follows years of advocacy and legal action by the U.S. Women’s National Team for equal pay. The CBAs ensure that both teams benefit equally from World Cup earnings. The same structure will apply to the 2027 Women’s World Cup, provided the U.S. women qualify. A decisive match against El Salvador on Nov. 27 will determine their qualification. Should they succeed, the payout per player is expected to increase slightly.

According to ESPN, the U.S. Soccer Federation is required to distribute the men’s prize money within 31 days of receiving it from FIFA. The process for the women’s prize money will follow the same timeline, pending qualification and agreement on the final roster.

Quarterfinals and Key Performances

Eight teams remain in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals, with notable upsets and standout performances. Switzerland reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 1954 after defeating Colombia in a penalty shootout. Norway, led by Erling Haaland, also advanced, with Haaland scoring seven goals in the tournament so far. Morocco’s victory over Canada has set them up for a challenging match against Spain in the quarterfinals.

Belgium’s inconsistent performance has raised questions about their chances against Spain, despite their strong win over the U.S. Norway’s success is attributed to Haaland’s scoring ability and the strong midfield led by Martin Ødegaard and Patrick Berg. Berg, who led Bodo/Glimt to notable Champions League performances, played a serious role in Norway’s victory over Brazil, completing 93% of his passes and making over 20 long runs during the match.

Ranking Shifts and Coaching Changes

France has overtaken Argentina as the top-ranked team in the FIFA World Cup standings after defeating Paraguay 1-0. Argentina, despite their victory over Egypt, lost the top spot with a slight point difference. Spain remains in third place, with England in fourth. This marks the first time since the 2026 World Cup began that France has taken the top spot, a position historically associated with a “curse” — no team that has entered the World Cup as the top-ranked team has ever won the tournament.

On the coaching front, Zlatko Dalić has announced his departure from the Croatian national team after nine years in charge. During his tenure, Dalić led Croatia to a runner-up finish in the 2018 World Cup and third place in 2022. He also guided the team to a Nations League title in 2023. Dalić cited the need to step down as the right time, expressing confidence in the future of Croatian football and thanking players like Luka Modrić and younger talents for their contributions.

The 2026 World Cup continues to deliver surprises and standout performances, with key matches and decisions still to come. The U.S. men and women remain key players in the broader conversation about equal pay and international soccer equity, while other teams and players are rewriting their own stories on the world stage.