London: The decision was finalised during a FIFA Council meeting held in Vancouver, Canada, where officials agreed to raise the total financial resources distributed among all 48 participating teams to $871 million. The increased funding will be allocated across multiple areas, including tournament preparations, qualification phases, team delegation costs, and ticket distribution.

The move comes amid earlier concerns raised by European football federations, with reports from PA Media highlighting fears of potential financial losses linked to participation in the expanded tournament.

This development follows FIFA’s approval in December of a record prize pool of $727 million for the competition, with the eventual champions set to receive $50 million.

Alongside the financial boost, the FIFA Council introduced significant disciplinary rule changes. Yellow cards will now be wiped after the group stage and again following the quarter-finals, a move designed to reduce suspensions in the tournament’s new 48-team format, which includes an added round of 32 and a higher number of matches for teams advancing through knockout stages.

Under existing rules, players risk suspension after accumulating two yellow cards, a concern amplified by the expanded structure. The new reset system aims to ensure that key players are less likely to miss crucial matches later in the tournament.

The Council also approved stricter on-field conduct regulations. Players who cover their mouths during confrontations with opponents could now face a red card, while those who leave the pitch in protest against refereeing decisions risk immediate expulsion. Similar penalties may apply to team officials who encourage such actions.