England miss out on £18m after Argentina end their World Cup in semi-finals

England’s World Cup campaign ended at the semi-final stage on Wednesday night as Argentina came from behind to win 2-1, eliminating the Three Lions and costing the FA up to £18 million in FIFA prize money.

Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in the 55th minute after a cagey opening half, but Argentina levelled through Enzo Fernandez in the 85th minute. The decisive blow came in the second minute of added time, when Lautaro Martinez headed home Lionel Messi’s cross to seal a 2-1 victory for the reigning champions. England’s 60-year wait to reach a World Cup final continues.

The financial implications are significant. FIFA awards every participating nation a $2.5 million (£1.85m) preparation fee, with further earnings determined by how far a team progresses. England’s run to the semi-finals guarantees the FA at least $28 million (£20m) in prize money on top of that base payment.

Had England reached the final, they would have been guaranteed at least $34 million (£25m) as runners-up, with the winners collecting $51 million (£38m). The gap between what England will now receive and what a final appearance would have secured amounts to as much as £18 million.

England still have the opportunity to add to their earnings. A win over France in Saturday’s third-place play-off would lift their total prize money to $30 million (£22m), bringing the combined haul — including the preparation fee — to approximately £23.85 million.

Teams can also receive additional contributions from FIFA described as subsidies for delegation costs, including travel, logistics and administration, worth over $16 million (£11.8m) per side. These payments are designed to reduce the financial gap between nations competing at the tournament.

With the World Cup now effectively over for England, attention will soon shift to domestic football and the longer-term target of Euro 2028, which is being hosted across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The final is scheduled to take place at Wembley Stadium, where England lost the Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 finals to Italy and Spain respectively.