Spain’s victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final not only secured the country’s first men’s World Cup title in more than a decade—it also came with a $50 million prize from FIFA. While the trophy now sits in Madrid, a portion of the prize money could ultimately find its way to Washington. That’s because many of the players, coaching staff and referees who earned income during the tournament may have also incurred U.S. tax obligations.
Spain lifted the World Cup, but the IRS still gets a cut of its $50 million pay day as players, coaches and refs all face complex U.S. “jock taxes”
