Semifinal qualification guarantees FFF at least €23.6 million

By eliminating Morocco 2-0 on Thursday evening in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, the Blues offered the French Football Federation (FFF) far more than a place in the final four: a financial guarantee. Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé scored the two goals that propelled France to the semifinals for the third consecutive time.

Before the tournament, FFF president Philippe Diallo had set the bar clearly: a semifinal qualification was the minimum threshold to avoid losing money. “Many federations are in a situation that won’t allow them to balance their accounts. You have to go very far in the tournament to manage to break even. I’m not even talking about making money, just about not losing any,” he had said. The costs associated with moving the French delegation to the United States are indeed particularly high.

This objective has now been achieved. The FFF is assured of receiving €23.6 million in FIFA prize money for a fourth-place finish, plus over €2.2 million intended to cover preparation costs. The federation also exceeds the forecasts included in its budget for the 2026-2027 season, which had counted on a simple quarterfinal qualification.

The prize money increases as the Blues advance: a third-place finish would bring €25.4 million, a lost final €28.9 million, and a World Cup title on July 19 next would bring the total to €43.7 million. For Didier Deschamps and his players, each additional victory therefore carries as much weight financially as it does sportingly for the institution supporting them.