FIFA Council Approves Record $655M Prize Fund for 2026 World Cup

FIFA has approved a record $655 million prize fund for the 2026 men’s World Cup, a 50% increase from the 2022 tournament. The champions will earn $50 million, with prize money decreasing by finishing position, and even teams eliminated early will receive significant payouts. Every qualified nation is guaranteed at least $10.5 million, including preparation costs. The increase reflects FIFA’s projected $13 billion revenue for the current four-year cycle, nearly double that of the cycle before Qatar 2022.

Warner Bros. Discovery has urged shareholders to reject a hostile takeover bid from Larry and David Ellison, accusing the father-son pair of consistently misleading investors. WBD disputes Paramount’s claim that the offer is fully backed by the Ellison family, saying no such backstop exists. The company argues the $30-per-share offer undervalues WBD and carries significant risks and costs. Despite this, some shareholders have indicated they may ignore WBD’s advice and tender their shares anyway.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has signed a multi-year deal granting YouTube exclusive global rights to the Oscars from 2029 through 2033, starting with the 101st ceremony. The Oscars and related content will stream live and free worldwide on YouTube, with U.S. access also available via YouTube TV. The partnership includes red carpet and behind-the-scenes coverage, enhanced accessibility features, and multilingual options. YouTube will also host exclusive access to other Academy events and programs on the Oscars’ official channel.

The Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective will honor Pharrell Williams, Brandy, and Kirk Franklin at the fourth annual Recording Academy Honors on Jan. 29, during Grammy Week in Los Angeles. Pharrell will receive the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award for his music, innovation, philanthropy, and cultural influence. Brandy and Franklin will each be awarded the Black Music Icon Award for their lasting impact on Black music and global culture.

CNBC confirmed that OpenAI is in talks with Amazon about a potential investment that could exceed $10 billion, along with a deal to use Amazon’s AI chips. The discussions follow OpenAI’s recent restructuring, which gives it more flexibility to raise capital and partner beyond Microsoft. Amazon, which has already invested heavily in rival Anthropic, appears to be expanding its presence in the generative AI market.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the league will decide in 2026 whether to proceed with domestic expansion, marking the first time he has set a clear timeline. He confirmed the NBA is actively evaluating markets, while stressing the league is not trying to tease potential host cities. Expansion discussions have been ongoing since 2020, but no decision had previously been scheduled. If the NBA moves forward, Seattle and Las Vegas are widely seen as the leading candidates to receive teams.

Ed Sheeran‘s The Mathematics Tour is officially the top earning pop tour of the year, grossing $214.5 million for 48 shows that sold 1.9 million tickets. In second place is The Mayhem Ball by Lady Gaga, which earned $166.2 million for 722,000 tickets across 35 shows. In third place is Dua Lipa, who grossed $141.1 million for 1.2 million tickets sold across 59 shows. Other notable pop stars who had high-earning tours included Bruno Mars, Kylie Minogue, and Sabrina Carpenter.

Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife Penny were named the top charitable donors of 2025 after giving $2 billion to Oregon Health & Science University to support cancer research and patient services. They have a long history of giving to the institution, and this gift brings their total contributions to at least $2.7 billion. Warren Buffett ranked second with a $746.7 million donation in Berkshire Hathaway stock to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation. Third were Jackie and Mike Bezos, who pledged $500 million to UNICEF USA’s Child Nutrition Fund.

Rory McIlroy and Versant are launching a joint production company called Firethorn Productions to develop original content centered on golf and McIlroy’s world. The venture will produce documentaries, branded campaigns, live fan experiences, and content across Versant platforms like GolfPass and Golf Channel. Firethorn marks Versant’s first joint venture ahead of its official spinoff from NBCUniversal in January. McIlroy also extended his role as the face of GolfPass through 2038.

FIFA has partnered with Netflix to release a new soccer video game tied to the 2026 World Cup, set to launch sometime next year. Produced by Delphi Interactive, the game will feature a newly reimagined format distinct from past FIFA titles made by EA Sports. It will be available exclusively through Netflix Games for subscribers in select countries. Players can use their phones as controllers and play solo or with friends online on TVs or computers.

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