England have reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, which has locked in a prize-money payout of $20 million, or about £15 million - and 888sport look back at their tournament journey this summer.

What England Have Earned So Far

England’s run to the last eight has already taken them beyond the round-of-16 payment bracket and into the quarter-final bracket, where the prize fund rises again even before any further result is added.

That means the Football Association can already bank a significant sum from the record 2026 prize pool, with the exact figure depending on how far England go from here.

How The 2026 World Cup Prize Money Works

The 2026 tournament comes with a record $871 million prize pool, distributed across performance rewards and participation payments for the 48 teams in the competition.

The champion will receive $50 million, while the teams that finish fourth, third and second will collect $27 million, $29 million and $33 million respectively.

Quarter-finalists are in line for $19 million, round-of-16 teams receive $15 million, and teams that exit in the round of 32 get $11 million.

Every team also receives a preparation payment, and the total guaranteed support for all qualified nations is at least $12.5 million.

What England Could Still Win

If England go one round further and lose in the semi-finals, their prize-money total will rise again before the third-place or final payments are decided.

A place in the final would move them into the top two brackets, where the financial jump is substantial and the silverware is matched by one very tidy payday.

Why The Money Matters

For England, the prize money is more than a headline figure. It affects the FA’s tournament income, the wider financial picture around the national team, and the scale of what is available to reinvest after the competition.

July 10, 2026

By 888sport

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A small group of nations have reached the World Cup and never won a match at the finals and 888sport look through the record books.

Bolivia hold the longest winless record despite qualifying three times. Canada were the most recent to escape the club, beating Qatar 6-0 in 2026 for their first-ever World Cup win.

Teams to Never Win a World Cup Match

Of the 84 teams to have qualified for a World Cup, 21 teams have never won a World Cup match. Honduras and New Zealand, with nine World Cup matches apiece, share the record for the most matches played at the finals without a win.

Here are the teams that have never won at the World Cup:

  • New Zealand
  • Cape Verde
  • Honduras
  • Angola
  • Israel
  • Iceland
  • Kuwait
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Curaçao
  • Qatar
  • Bolivia
  • Jordan
  • Togo
  • Indonesia
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Uzbekistan
  • China
  • Panama
  • Iraq
  • Haiti
  • El Salvador

What “Winless” Means

For this purpose, being winless in World Cup matches is focused entirely on matches played at the finals. Wins in qualifying or playoffs are not included. All victories – whether in the group stage or knockout rounds – are accounted for.

The 21 teams listed above have played in at least one World Cup without registering a victory.

There’s a range of World Cup experience in the list. Indonesia, for example, have only played one World Cup match. New Zealand and Honduras have had nine attempts at grabbing a World Cup win. 

Bolivia’s Long Wait

Bolivia have played six World Cup matches across three editions. They first appeared at the inaugural tournament in 1930, losing both of their matches without scoring. In 1950, their lone fixture was an 8-0 defeat.

Since 1950, the South Americans made their lone World Cup appearance in the United States in 1994. They were drawn with South Korea, Germany, and Spain, and picked up their first World Cup point with a draw against South Korea. 

Canada Get on the Board

Canada failed to win their first seven World Cup matches across the 1986, 2022, and 2026 tournaments. A 6-0 win over Qatar on matchday two of the 2026 group stage was the Canucks’ first World Cup win.

Jonathan David, the country’s all-time leading scorer, was the star of the show with a hat-trick. 

Honourable Draws

In 1970, Israel drew with eventual runners-up Italy and registered a 1-1 draw with Sweden in Toluca. It was Israel’s only World Cup appearance to date.

Qatar, after losing all three matches in 2022, drew with Switzerland in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup, but failed to register their first tournament win. They ultimately suffered defeats to Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Cape Verde’s World Cup story is the most remarkable of any of the winless teams. Draws with Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia took the minnows into the knockout phase of the 2026 World Cup, where they forced extra time against Lionel Messi’s Argentina.

FAQs

Which team has the worst World Cup record?

Bolivia hold the longest winless run at the finals, with no victories across their appearances.

Did Canada ever win a World Cup match?

Yes — their first came at the 2026 finals, a 6-0 win over Qatar.

Has Israel ever won a World Cup match?

No. Their only appearance was 1970, where they drew with Italy and Sweden but did not win.

July 10, 2026
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Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

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Harry Kane is one goal behind Erling Haaland in the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot race, with Haaland on seven and Kane on six.

That gap is small enough to keep the market and the narrative alive, but the real value of the award is not a cash prize. And even then, you've got the might of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe to compete with.

Golden Boot Standings:

  • Lionel Messi - 8
  • Kylian Mbappe - 7
  • Erling Haaland - 7
  • Harry Kane - 6

Golden Boot race and the prize on offer

The Golden Boot is the World Cup’s top-scorer award, and it is decided by goals first, then the official tie-breaks if players finish level. Kane has already shown he can win it the hard way, finishing top scorer at Russia 2018 with six goals after no one caught him in the final.

No prize money for the Golden Boot

The Golden Boot itself does not come with prize money. It is an individual honour, not a separate tournament bonus, so the financial value comes from what the award can unlock around the award, not from a cheque attached to the trophy.

Where the real money is

The money tends to come through contract bonuses, brand value and the sort of boot deal leverage that top scorers can turn into hard cash. A Golden Boot can strengthen a player’s negotiating position with sponsors and club partners, especially when the name on the award is already global, as Kane’s is.

That is the part that makes the race interesting for Harry Kane: a late scoring surge can change how he is framed commercially long after the tournament ends. For elite players, the award is often a multiplier rather than a payout.

What past Golden Boot wins have meant

Kylian Mbappé won the 2022 Golden Boot with eight goals after his hat-trick in the final against Argentina.[5] Kane’s 2018 Golden Boot came with the kind of prestige that sticks, because he left Russia as the tournament’s top scorer even though England fell short of the trophy.

Those wins matter because they become part of a player’s football identity. A Golden Boot does not pay out directly, but it can sit alongside a World Cup run as proof that a forward delivered when the lights were brightest.

Head-to-head financial stakes for Saturday

Saturday’s Kane-Haaland showdown is financially meaningful because every goal can influence the finishing order, the headlines and the commercial conversation around both players. One goal could be the difference between Kane staying in the hunt and Haaland turning a narrow lead into a fully priced victory.

For Kane, that would mean adding another elite individual honour to his record and another strong line for any future bonus talks. For bettors and fans, it is the cleanest kind of race: goals decide it, and goals are the one currency both strikers understand perfectly.

Golden Boot tie-break rules

If two players finish on the same number of goals, FIFA uses tie-break criteria rather than handing out the award jointly. That means the race can still swing on the small stuff, even after the scoring tally looks settled.

Most World Cup Golden Boots

The most famous names on the World Cup top-scorer roll call include Ronaldo, Miroslav Klose, James Rodríguez, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé. Kane is already in that company, and another Golden Boot would only sharpen his place in the World Cup record books.

July 9, 2026

By 888sport

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On the verge of becoming England's most capped player at a World Cup, Jordan Pickford has enjoyed a long and illustrious career but he still has plenty to give.

Born on the 7th March 1994 in Washington, Tyne and Wear, Jordan Pickford grew up supporting Sunderland, who he would join as a youngster having shone as a goalkeeper.

He signed his first professional contract in 2011 with the club, but was loaned out to numerous clubs in subsequent years.

Per year€6,500,000.00£5,517,408
Per month€541,666£459,783
Per week€125,000£106,104
Per day€17,808£15,116
Per hour€742£629
Per minute€12£10

Since you've been viewing this page, Jordan Pickford has earned 

 


It was when he signed for Everton in 2017 however that his career really took off, after a stellar final season at Sunderland, despite their relegation.

Since this move, he has established himself as the number one goalkeeper for both club and country and this rise has understandably seen him develop a large net worth.

How Much Is Jordan Pickford Worth?

Jordan Pickford is thought to have a net worth of £36m. This is not a surprising amount for England’s first choice goalkeeper, and a regular Premier League player for over five years.

In the early stages of his career, he would have been on modest wages. However, a good debut season at Everton saw him sign a six-year contract in September 2018 that netted him £5 million per year.

On top of that, Pickford has a sponsorship deal with Puma that will add further millions to his worth, having previously been tied to Nike.

After a good 2026 World Cup competition, and with plenty of his career still ahead of him, Pickford will be hoping to establish himself as one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers, further consolidating his wealth.

Jordan Pickford Wife

Jordan Pickford and Megan Davison were childhood sweethearts who first got together at school and have been an item ever since. Megan has been at his side throughout and moved to Liverpool with Jordan when he transferred to Everton.

The couple finally married in a low-key ceremony in March 2020. The previous year they also welcomed a baby boy to the world, Arlo George.

Megan has not given up on her dreams after moving to Liverpool, and in 2020 graduated from Sunderland University.

On her Instagram account, which has amassed over 90,000 followers, she posted a photo of her in her graduation gown at Sunderland’s ground.

The rest of her feed includes photos of her travels around the world with son Arlo and her friends, often in England kits supporting the England team. Football odds suggest they will get plenty more opportunities to support him and the team in the coming years.

Jordan Pickford House

In the summer of 2018, Jordan Pickford and his fiancée Megan moved into their new £2.1m mansion, situated in Knutsford, Cheshire, a favourite location for many footballers.

Neighbours include international teammates John Stones and Jordan Henderson - little surprise therefore that the area is known as the Golden Triangle.

The mansion itself is covered in black and white marble and adorned with family photos. An open plan kitchen includes a designer breakfast bar, and elsewhere you will find a private cinema, a jacuzzi and a huge garden overlooking a golf course.

It has been reported that Megan’s pride and joy is in the bedroom, next to a velvet chair, namely, a huge gilded gold mirror. The house is a fitting reward for the hard work and success that has typified Jordan’s career.

Jordan Pickford Height

Jordan Pickford is 6-foot 1 inch tall, or 1.85 metres, which seems an acceptable height for a goalkeeper.

However, many observers have debated whether he is actually too small for his position, with the average height of a Premier League goalkeeper currently standing at 6-foot 3 inches.

His height has even been criticised by fellow goalkeepers such as Thibaut Courtois, who is a whole 15 centimetres taller than Pickford. This criticism occurred after England lost 1-0 to Belgium, to a goal Pickford attracted much criticism for.

Leaving such discussions aside Pickford’s relative lack of height has not affected his performances and should not be seen as an issue.

There may be a perfect height for a goalkeeper that is greater than Pickford’s, but more important factors to consider are reaction skills, kicking ability, agility, and anticipation.

Jordan Pickford Van Dijk

Jordan Pickford made all the headlines early in the 2019/20 season in a very feisty Merseyside derby when in the sixth minute of the game, the ball fell to Virgil Van Dijk close to the Everton goal.

Pickford rushed out to block the anticipated shot, but in doing so clattered into Van Dijk’s leg, damaging his anterior cruciate ligaments.

Van Dijk would not play again that season, or for his country in the Euro 2020 finals, and Pickford somehow avoided a red card as the referee was distracted by an offside decision.

The incident attracted headlines for weeks to come, but ultimately it was nothing more than a badly misjudged attempt by Pickford to block a shot.

Van Dijk would return to the Liverpool side for the beginning of the following season, Premier League Odds suggesting his return may well revitalise Liverpool. As for Pickford, he managed to put the incident behind him and enjoy an excellent season.

Jordan Pickford England

Jordan Pickford broke into the England side in the same season that he made his big money move to Everton, having previously represented England at all youth levels.

His breakthrough came in August 2017, when Gareth Southgate picked him in the senior squad for two World Cup qualifiers.

Unfortunately, he had to withdraw with injury but would make his debut in a draw against Germany in November that year. Having been picked in the 2018 World Cup finals squad, Pickford has been England’s first choice goalkeeper ever since.

His performances that summer helped England get to the semi-final and in 2021, Pickford became the first goalkeeper in history to keep clean sheets in the first five games of a European Championship.

At World Cup 2026, he was one of England's standout players once again and he is now regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers to represent the country. Those into betting would be wise to back consolidating his place in the England team for many years to come.

July 9, 2026

By Stephen Tudor

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    Stephen Tudor is a freelance football writer and sports enthusiast who only knows slightly less about the beautiful game than you do.

    A contributor to FourFourTwo and Forbes, he is a Manchester City fan who was taken to Maine Road as a child because his grandad predicted they would one day be good.

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    Which team has competed in the World Cup final on more occasions than any other country? 888sport look at the nations that have appeared in the tournament showpiece more frequently than the rest.

    Germany have reached more World Cup finals than any nation, appearing in eight (1954, 1966, 1974, 1982, 1986, 1990, 2002 and 2014).

    Brazil follow with seven, then Italy and Argentina on six each. France have reached four and the Netherlands three — the most without ever winning.

    Most World Cup Final Appearances

    • Germany - 8 (4 victories)
    • Brazil - 7 (5 victories)
    • Italy - 6 (4 victories)
    • Argentina - 6 (3 victories)
    • France - 4 (2 victories)
    • Netherlands - 3 (0 victories)
    • Uruguay - 2 (2 victories)
    • Hungary - 2 (0 victories)
    • Czechoslovakia - 2 (0 victories)

    Germany: Record Holders

    Four-time champions and four-time runners-up, Germany are perennial World Cup contenders. There were five World Cup finals between 1974 and 1990 – the Germans featured in four of them, with wins over the Netherlands and Argentina in 1974 and 1990, respectively.

    Since 1990, final appearances have been less frequent for Die Mannschaft. Still, they got to the last match of the tournament in 2002, but were put to the sword by Ronaldo.

    In 2014, they hammered Brazil in the semi-final to set up a showdown with Lionel Messi and Argentina in the final, which was decided by Mario Götze’s extra time winner.

    Brazil, Italy, and Argentina 

    Brazil are Germany’s nearest rivals with seven final appearances. It’s no surprise the most successful World Cup team find themselves near the top of this list. Italy and Argentina have each appeared in six World Cup finals, with Argentina’s sixth delivering their third title in 2022. 

    Italy have only reached one World Cup final since 1994, registering a penalty shootout win over France in 2006. Argentina featured in the first World Cup final and lifted the trophy in 1978. Their next four have all come with either Diego Maradona or Messi in the team. 

    Teams to Reach a Final Without Ever Winning

    Five countries have reached the World Cup final and never won it. The Netherlands are the country to have suffered the most heartbreak with three final losses coming in 2010, 1978, and 1974. 

    Hungary and Czechoslovakia are each two-time finalists and two-time runners-up. Sweden (1958) and Croatia (2018) lost their lone final appearances.

    How the 2026 Final Could Change the List

    Led by an all-time great manager in Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil could equal Germany’s final tally in 2026. Germany, who were knocked out by Paraguay in the round of 32, are stuck on eight for at least four more years, while Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup and make it at least 24 years on six final appearances.

    Argentina are gunning to make back-to-back final appearances. Messi is still excelling on the biggest stage, so a deep run is a very real possibility.

    One of the pre-tournament favourites, France can move within one of Argentina and Italy if they reach the final. Didier Deschamps’ team were champions in 2018 and lost a dramatic final to Argentina in 2022. 

    World Cup Final FAQs:

    Which country has played in the most World Cup finals?

    • Germany, with eight final appearances across their West Germany and unified-Germany history.

    Who has reached the most finals without winning?

    • The Netherlands, runners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010.

    How many World Cup finals have Brazil reached?

    • Seven, winning a record five of them.
    July 3, 2026
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    Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

    He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

    Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

    Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

    Sam Cox
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