The report says around half of England’s guaranteed prize money would be shared among players and staff regardless of the result against Norway in the quarter-finals.
The agreement was reportedly reached with the players’ leadership group before the competition, removing the uncertainty that surrounded the women’s team before their own World Cup campaign.
The potential rewards would rise significantly if England win the tournament. The reported structure includes a players’ pool of about £15m, with manager Thomas Tuchel due around £3m and backroom staff approximately £1m.
The contrast with the women’s team is difficult to ignore. The Lionesses reportedly went public with a bonus dispute before the 2023 World Cup, despite offering individual tournament payments of up to £200,000 for the winners.
England eventually lost the final to Spain, while the disagreement was resolved after the tournament. The men’s pre-tournament agreement appears to reflect a more settled approach to reward, responsibility and player relations.
England’s male players also reportedly receive appearance fees of £2,000 per match, with those payments donated to charity under a long-standing arrangement.
The reported figures are also being driven by ’s expanded prize fund. The total has risen to $655m, while the winners’ allocation has increased from $32m to $50m.
That growth means deeper World Cup runs now carry greater commercial weight for national associations, but also bring closer scrutiny of how the money is divided.
The immediate focus is Saturday’s quarter-final against Norway. Victory would move England closer to a much larger payout - and test whether the reported bonus agreement can deliver its biggest reward.