KOLKATA, Oct 27 ― The 32 national teams competing at the 2018 World Cup will share US$400 million (RM1.69 billion) in prize money, a 12 per cent increase from the 2014 tournament, Fifa said today.

The purse at the previous edition in Brazil was US$358 million ― US$35 million of which was awarded to champions Germany, with runners-up Argentina pocketing US$25 million.

By contrast, countries who failed to advance beyond the group stage received US$8 million.

At a meeting of the Fifa council in Kolkata, world football's governing body also approved a decision to enhance the bidding regulations for the 2026 World Cup and appointed members of the bid evaluation task force.

Dates for several upcoming Fifa tournaments, including next year's Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and the 2019 Women's World Cup in France, were also confirmed.

The 2018 Club World Cup will run from December 12 to 22, while the Women's World Cup in 2019 is scheduled to start on June 7 with the final to take place on July 7. ― AFP