Spain won the World Cup, but could the USA take a slice of the prize?

Spain’s triumph over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final was a major win for the country, boosting morale and cementing the national team’s reputation as one of the strongest squads in the world.

Not only did the La Roja lift the coveted gold trophy, but the team also walked off the pitch with €43.7 million in prize money, the highest cash prize in the tournament’s history.

However, in the midst of the celebrations, questions have emerged over whether Spain will receive the full amount. Because the 2026 World Cup was partially hosted in the United States, there have been suggestions that the IRS could claim a share of Spain’s historic winnings.

 Could the IRS tax Spain’s World Cup win?

Under US law, payments to non-resident foreign athletes are subject to a 30 per cent federal withholding. While it is unclear whether Spain’s World Cup prize money would fall under these rules, reports have raised the possibility the IRS – the USA’s federal tax agency – could seek a share of the teams record €43.7 million prize. If the 30 per cent tax is applied fully, Spain’s prize pot could be reduced by about €13 million.

When asked by Fox News about the issue, US lawmaker Rep. Tim Burchett, said that, while he disagreed with the idea of taxing participating teams, “American professional athletes do it, so they knew that when they came over here.”

Similar laws were in place in previous host countries, but FIFA negotiated a tax relief for participating teams. It is unclear whether a similar agreement was in place for the 2026 edition.

Will the Spanish government take a cut?

Back home across the pond, Spanish authorities are also set to benefit off of Spain’s World Cup win through domestic tax revenues, although not by taxing the prize itself.

The Spanish government is expected to collect around €6 million in taxes from the 17 resident squad members who live and play in the country full time.

However, the financial impact of Spain’s World Cup victory extends beyond the players and the Spanish football federation. As reigning champions, the national tea’s global success and exposure could provide a boost for Spanish brands, tourism and exports, with the title acting as a worldwide showcase for the country.

How much will Spain benefit from winning the World Cup?

Unlike the IRS, Spain is not looking to take a cut of its national team’s World Cup prize money. Instead, the country is expected to benefit from the global attention and economic opportunities that come with becoming world champions.

When Spain won the World Cup in 2010, the country saw little measurable economic benefit from the victory, although the triumph came during a period of severe economic hardship, with unemployment reaching around 20 per cent, roughly double today’s rate.

This time around, economists expect the impact to be greater, with Spain forecast to see a boost of around €4 billion. Much of that benefit is expected to come from increased international visibility, with the World Cup title acting as a powerful global marketing tool for Spanish brands, tourism and exports.