What do the winners of the Concacaf Nations League get? How much prize money?

The second edition of the Conacaf Nations League comes to a close on Sunday, with the USMNT and Canada set to fight it to be crowned the best team in North America, the Caribbean and Central America. The United States romped to victory in a bad-tempered clash against rivals Mexico in the semi-finals, while Canada’s victory over Panama was a calmer affair but equally comfortable for John Herdman’s team.

Canada hoping to upset the USMNT

The Stars and Stripes won the inaugural edition of the tournament, edging out El Tri by three goals to two in extra time in Denver in June 2021, and are also the reigning Gold Cup holders, beating the same opponents once again just a few weeks later at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for their seventh title in the competition.

The same venue will host this year’s Concacaf Nations final, in which the Canadians will be hoping to upset the odds. In 2022, the Reds qualified for only their second FIFA World Cup, and their first since 1986, and there is certainly a feeling there are a nation on the up. However, in their history they have only ever won one Gold Cup (2000) and one Concacaf Championship (1985), which is now defunct. Oh, and we shouldn’t forget their gold medal in the Summer Olympics in 1904.

Winning the Nations League would, therefore, be a bigger deal for Canada in terms of an achievement, although there’s no way the USMNT will be prepared to allow their neighbours to get one over on them.

How much will the Conacaf Nations League winner earn? How does it compare to UEFA?

The match in Paradise will take place on the same day as the UEFA Nations League final, with the Final Four having followed a similar format. However, the prizes on offer within the two confederations are vastly different.

In Europe, the winners take home €10.5 million ($11.49 million), with the runners-up consoled with a cool €9 million ($9.84 million). Even the losing semi-finalists are handsomely rewarded for taking part, with the country coming out on top in the third-place playoff earning €8 million ($8.75 million), only a little more than the fourth-placed team (€7 million, $7.66 million).

The UEFA Nations League winners also receive a sporting reward, being drawn into a qualification group for the 2026 World Cup that has only five teams rather than the usual six (is playing fewer games a reward? We’ll have to assume so).

How does Concacaf Nations League prize money compare to the Gold Cup?

The nation that emerges victorious in the Concacaf Nations League, however, will have to make do with a rather more modest sum. The winners of Sunday’s final will collect around $1 million in prize money, a little over half of what is on offer for lifting the upcoming Gold Cup ($1.9 million) later this summer.