Despite cricket being a beloved sport, when it comes to the biggest sports festival, this bat-and-ball game is nowhere near the world’s most famous sport, like Football.

Fans are shocked to know that the prize money of the FIFA World Cup 2026 champions would be 19 times higher than the T20 World Cup 2026, which concluded in March this year.

A Glance At FIFA World Cup 2026 Prize Money

Compared to the previous edition, the FIFA World Cup 2026 has witnessed a 50% increase in prize money. As per the reports, the overall funds available for this tournament are $727 million, out of which $655 million prize money will be allocated across the 48 participating teams.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the ongoing 23rd edition of the FIFA WC prize money tabulated below in USD and INR currency (approximate value converted and mentioned as of 15th June 2026):

Additional Benefits For FIFA World Cup 2026 Participating Teams

Each qualifying team will receive a jaw-dropping amount of $1.5 million (approximately INR 14.20 crore) to cover the preparation expenses. So, even the knocked-out teams in the first round, ranked between 33rd and 48th position, are certain to receive $10.5 million, which is approximately INR 99 crore.

Notably, the runner-up of the FIFA WC 2026 earns $33 million, which is approximately 12.5 times greater than the T20 World Cup 2026 champions’ prize money ($2.63 million).

Revisiting ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Prize Money

The overall prize pool for the men’s T20 World Cup 2026 was around $13.5 million, and here is how the prize money was allocated to each participating team in the tournament:

Cricket Champions vs Football Champions: The Highest Prize Money Winner?

The prize money in cricket World Cup events is much lower and cannot be easily matched like that of football. This is because the FIFA WC champions’ rewards are nearly 16.67 times greater than the prize money of the T20 WC 2026 champions.

Notably, the overall prize pool for FIFA is reported to be around $727 million, while T20WC 2026 comes in at a mere $13.5 million.

In simpler terms, the qualifying teams in the FIFA World Cup 2026 first round ($9 million for ranking between 33rd and 48th) earn 3 times as much as the winners of the T20 World Cup 2026 ($3 million).

FICA WC 2026 vs T20 WC 2026: Reasons for the Massive Difference in Prize Money

Here are the core reasons why the FIFA World Cup 2026 prize money creates a bigger gap compared to cricket’s core events:

1. Popularity

There is no doubt that Football is the world’s most popular sport, garnering billions of viewers across the globe. A massive revenue is generated through ticket sales, media rights, sponsors, and partnerships.

Contrarily, cricket is popular only in Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, etc. Also, this sport is familiar in SENA nations like South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia. But, when it comes to global reach, cricket is not as popular as football.

Other sports events, including cricket’s financial power, eventually become diminutive in front of FIFA’s popularity.

2. Broadcasting and Media Rights

A massive global reach can help FIFA secure multi-billion-dollar broadcasting deals across the globe, enhancing a larger financial pool.

3. Top-Tier Sponsorships

Major companies invest heavily in FIFA World Cup sponsorships as there is a complete guarantee of gaining global exposure. This significantly enhances the commercial revenue distributed to all participating teams in the tournament.

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Despite the hurdles, the hosts successfully chased a mediocre 160-run target at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to end the series on a dominating note. Thanks to Travis Head’s 12th test ton and Michael Neser’s 4-fer in the first innings, which laid a solid foundation for the Aussies.

Hadn’t England won the fourth test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the series would have ended in four consecutive heartbreaking whitewashes for the visitors on Australian soil.

Starting from the Perth test to the recently concluded clash in Sydney, Australia’s dominance at home was exhibited by top-notch batting and bowling performances (excluding the Melbourne test).

England’s First Innings Performance in Vain

A 384-run total in the first innings seemed to be competitive enough for England. Joe Root’s 160 runs from 242 balls (including 15 fours) and Harry Brook’s 84-run knock off 97 balls (including 6 fours and 1 six) proved ineffective against Australia’s in-depth batting lineup.

Michael Neser’s 4/60 in 18.3 overs, along with the 2-fers of Mitchell Starc (2/93 in 23 overs) and Scott Boland (2/85 in 26 overs), enhanced the quality of the Australian pace bowling attack.

Head and Smith’s First Inning Show All the Way

Travis Head once again showed his prowess by scoring his third century of this series. His quickfire knock of 163 runs from 166 balls (including 24 fours and 1 six). Steve Smith, too, joined the show on his homeground by scoring his 5th century at this venue. His 220-ball 138 runs (including 16 fours and 1 six) allowed the Aussies to conveniently take a competitive lead.

Ultimately, Beau Webster’s cameo as a tailender scoring an unbeaten 71 runs off 87 balls (including 7 fours) bolstered Australia’s first innings to 567 in 133.5 overs. 

The hosts’ 183-run lead after the first inning was indeed the turning point of the game. Likewise to the first innings, England managed to compile only a 300+ total.

Jacob Bethell’s Century Not Enough to Set Tough Target

Jacob Bethell, at a very young age, showed a great level of resilience. He batted at a strike rate of 58.11 and scored 154 runs off 265 balls (including 15 fours). This was indeed his maiden century in the longest format of cricket.

Although Ben Duckett and Harry Brook scored 42 each, England failed to set a formidable target.

England mitigated the deficit of 183 runs but managed to compile only 342 in the second innings, setting a modest target lower than 200.

The noteworthy bowling figures of Beau Webster (3/64 in 16 overs), Mitchell Starc (3/72 in 18.2 overs), and Scott Boland (2/46 in 25 overs) restricted the Ben Stokes-led side to below 400 in their second innings.

Nervy Moments in 4th Innings

Australian openers Travis Head (29 runs) and Jake Weatherald (34 runs) got off to a speedy start. The duo of left-handed batters in the initial phases made it easier to chase a subpar target.

However, Josh Tongue (3/42 in 11 overs) and Will Jacks (42/1 in 6.2 overs) strengthened England’s bowling attack by dismissing half of the Australian side.

Especially on Day 05, the ball started to spin heavily, favoring spinners. Despite the nervy moments, Cameron Green (22 runs) and Alex Carey (16 runs) took their time to settle at the crease and steered their team safely to a convincing win.

5 Notable Records From the Ashes 2025-26

As the Ashes 2025-26 comes to a wrap, here are the most noteworthy records from the five-match test series between Australia and England:

1. Catching Efficiency of Australia vs England

With 85.3%, Australia’s catching efficiency was absolutely impressive, having dropped just 12 catches throughout the series.

Contrarily, England dropped 18 catches with their catching efficiency ranging upto only 75.3%.

2. Steve Smith’s Captaincy Records in The Ashes

Australia under Steve Smith’s captaincy now maintains an 80% success rate in The Ashes, having won 8 out of 10 games (including a loss and a draw).

3. Australia in Home Tests vs England Since the 2010/11 Ashes Loss

Ever since losing the Sydney Test to England back in the 2010-11 Ashes, Australia has remained unbeaten at home by winning 16 out of 18 matches (including 2 draws). 

However, Steve Smith’s led team’s recent loss in the Melbourne test ended their 16-match winning streak. Nevertheless, Australia still dominates the charts starting from the 2013-14 season by winning 17 out of 20 matches in the Ashes at Home (including 2 draws and 1 loss).

4. Highest Run Rate in the History of Test Cricket Series

With a 4.07 run rate, the Ashes 2025-26 stands out as the highest ever recorded in a test series so far:

5. Australia’s 3 Wicketkeepers with 300+ Runs and 25+ Dismissals

Alex Carey becomes the second Australian wicketkeeper, after the former captain Adam Gilchrist, to amass 300+ runs and claim 25+ dismissals in a single test series to date:

• Adam Gilchrist: 340 Runs and 26 Dismissals (in The Ashes 2001).
• Adam Gilchrist: 333 Runs and 25 Dismissals (in The Ashes 2002-03).
• Alex Carey: 323 Runs and 28 Dismissals (in The Ashes 2025-26).

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Additionally, Alex Carey’s 128-ball-72 runs (including 6 fours) and Usman Khawaja’s 40 runs off 51 balls (including 4 fours) revived the Aussies from a collapsing start.

England, in a must-win game, now has an uphill task to chase a massive target, having lost two wickets instantly on Day 04.

Head’s Nervous 11th Test Ton and Dropped Catch

Travis Head, on 99 runs, had to wait for nine balls to achieve his 11th test century. However, the left-handed batter overcame his nervousness and smacked the ball towards the backward point to smash a sensational ton in his test cricket career.

For the unversed, Head was dropped on 99 by Harry Brook. The Australian batter struck the ball at the gully, and it was a golden chance for Brook to silence the entire home crowd.

The 54,000 set of spectators who were tensed with every dot ball burst out of laughter and took a deep breath when Travis accomplished his century on a thrilling note.

Head was in complete control by remaining unbeaten on 142 at the end of Day 03 (December 19). However, Josh Tongue dismissed him on Day 04 (December 20) as Australia’s innings was wrapped up to 349 in 84.4 overs.

Travis Head’s Sensational Test Record After Don Bradman

For the fourth consecutive time, Travis Head smashed a century at the Adelaide Oval, thereby becoming the fourth Australian cricketer to achieve this feat at a single venue in Australia.

Head’s Performance in the Last Four Tests at The Adelaide Oval

Interestingly, Travis Head, in his last four test matches at the Adelaide Oval, scored 586 runs in 6 innings, and here is a detailed breakdown:

England’s Bowling Attack Ineffective Against Travis Head

Josh Tongue (4/70 in 18 overs) and Brydon Carse (3/80 in 20 overs) delivered a top-notch performance for England. Also, Will Jacks (1/107 in 19 overs), Ben Stokes (1/26 in 7 overs), and Jofra Archer (1/20 in 12.4 overs) played a supportive role to the bowling unit.

However, the Australian batting line-up, spearheaded by Travis Head, ripped apart the visitors’ bowling attack. Although the 31-year-old fell short of 30 runs in registering his maiden test century, he played a game-changing knock that turned the luck in Australia’s favor.

HEAD-ache for England? Another Ashes Series Loss Loading!

England won its last Ashes series back in the 2015-16 season, that also favored by the benefits of playing at home. Since then, the team played the five-match test series against Australia four times, having lost two of them, with the remaining two ending in a draw.

Under Ben Stokes’ captaincy, the team is on the verge of securing its third loss in The Ashes against Australia in the past 10 years.

As of now, Australia is leading the Ashes 2025-26 with a 2-0 scoreline and is in a dominant position to add another victory.

England is currently trailing by 300+ runs, and if their innings get wrapped up on Saturday (December 20), then Australia would win the Ashes in just 10 days of the competition. This would indeed mark the fastest record achieved by any team in an Ashes series since 1920-21, Australia secured a 5-0 win in just 8 days.

Former England Cricketer About Head’s 170-Run Knock

According to former England bowler Graeme Smith’s opinion, Travis Head easily compiled runs by getting off to a positive start:

“Yeah! It was indeed an easy start; he (speaking about Head) got off. You see, there was a big gap behind the square on the offside, and the ball easily travelled over there. A player of Travis Head’s caliber can execute shots late at the back foot. The bowlers should have bowled fuller deliveries to motivate him to play the drive, which could have been harder and riskier for him,�Smith said.

The 44-year-old’s analysis proves factual as Head scored the majority of his tons in test cricket when he got off to an easy start to his innings against any opponent.

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Eight participating teams have been divided into two groups, with four teams in each group (namely Group A and Group B). As the clash for the highly coveted trophy is expected to be fierce, let’s take a look at the tournament’s format and squads of all teams.

Format of the Asia Cup 2025 Rising Stars

Here is how the eight teams have been arranged into Group A and Group B in the ongoing 20-over tournament as follows:

Each team will play a single round-robin in the group stages, facing each opponent once, and the top two sides in each group points table will secure a spot in the semi-finals.

Ultimately, the winner of the semi-finals will compete in the final to claim Asia’s Rising Star Championship crown.

Dynamic Start to the Asia Cup 2025 Rising Stars

Pakistan A had a positive start to their campaign with a 40-run triumph over Oman in the season opener. On the other hand, India A secured a massive 148-run victory against the United Arab Emirates.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s monstrous knock of 42-ball-144 runs (including 11 fours and 15 sixes) elevated the tournament’s standards for the present and next generation of cricketers as well in a dynamic-paced T20I format.

Squads of All Eight Teams in Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

Here is a complete list of all the participating teams’ squads in the ongoing Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025:

Afghanistan A 15-Member Squad

• Batters (4): Darwish Rasooli (Captain), Rahmanullah Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Imran Mir
• Wicketkeepers (2): Noor Ur Rahman, Mohammad Ishaq
• Bowlers (5): Qais Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Bilal Sami, Allah Ghazanfar
• All-Rounders (4): Farmanullah Safi, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Nangeyalia Kharote, Zubaid Akbari

Bangladesh A 15-Member Squad

• Batters (4): Jishan Alam, Yasir Ali, Zawad Abrar, Habibur Rahman Sohan
• Wicketkeepers (2): Mahidul Islam Ankon, Akbar Ali (Captain)
• Bowlers (5): Ripon Mondol, SM Meherob, Shadhin Islam, Rakibul Hasan, Ariful Islam
• All-Rounders (4): Tofael Ahmed, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, Abu Hider Rony, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury

Hong Kong 15-Member Squad

• Batters (4): Kalhan Challu, Shiv Mathur, Kinchit Shah, Babar Hayat
• Wicketkeepers (2): Anshuman Rath, Zeeshan Ali
• Bowlers (5): Ateeq Iqbal, Ehsan Khan, Hassan Khan Mohammad, Mohammad Waheed, Mohammad Ghazanfar
• All-Rounders (4): Nizakat Khan, Nasrulla Rana, Yasim Murtaza, Aizaz Khan

Sri Lanka A 15-Member Squad

• Batters (3): Lasith Croospulle, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Nuwanidu Fernando
• Wicketkeepers (2): Nishan Madushka, Sohan de Livera
• Bowlers (6): Vishen Halambage, Garuka Sanketh, Isitha Wijesundera, Pramod Madushan, Traveen Mathew, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth
• All-Rounders (4): Sahan Arachchige, Milan Priyanath Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Ramesh Mendis

Pakistan A 15-Member Squad

• Batters (3): Yasir Khan, Mohammad Naeem, Arafat Minhas
• Wicketkeepers (1): Ghazi Gori
• Bowlers (5): Ahmed Daniyal, Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Shahid Aziz, Sufiyan Muqeem
• All-Rounders (6): Irfan Khan (Captain), Mubasir Khan, Saad Masood, Muhammad Shahzad, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Fariq

India A 15-Member Squad

• Batters (4): Priyansh Arya, Nehal Wadhera, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Naman Dhir
• Wicketkeepers (2): Abishek Porel, Jitesh Sharma
• Bowlers (5): Yash Thakur, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Gurjapneet Singh, Suyash Sharma
• All-Rounders (4): Suryansh Shedge, Ashutosh Sharma, Ramandeep Singh, Harsh Dubey

United Arab Emirates (UAE) 14-Member Squad

• Batters (4): Ethan DSouza, Sohaib Khan, Mayank Kumar, Yayin Rai
• Wicketkeepers (1): Syed Haider
• Bowlers (6): Muhammad Farooq, Zahid Ali, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Muhammad Jawadullah, Zahid Ali, Muhammad Arfan
• All-Rounders (3): Alishan Sharafu, Harshit Kaushik, Aayan Afzal Khan

Oman 13-Member Squad

• Batters (1): Zikria Islam
• Wicketkeepers (2): Hammad Mirza (Captain), Sufyan Yousaf
• Bowlers (5): Aryan Bisht, Shuaib Al Balushi, Samay Shrivastava, Pruthvikumar Macchi, Ubaid Ullaha
• All-Rounders (5): Wasim Ali, Muzahir Raza, Shafiq Jan, Hassnain Shah, Jay Odedra

Where to Watch Asia Cup 2025 Rising Stars? Live Streaming and Telecast

Viewers in India can enjoy the live-streaming coverage of the Asia Cup 2025 Rising Stars matches on the Sony Liv app and its official website. Also, the live telecast will be provided on the different channels of the Sony Sports Network (Sony Sports 1, Sony Sports 3 Hindi, Sony Sports 4 Tamil, Sony Sports Ten 1 HD, and Sony Sports 5).

Overall Schedule of ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

The Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 comprises 15 T20Is scheduled between November 14 (Friday) and November 23 (Sunday) in Doha:

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The renowned former Zimbabwean cricketer isn’t new to the coaching role, given his prior experience, along with multiple victories to his name. 

Recently, Flower made his entry into The Hundred�England’s most popular franchise tournament. He joined as the head coach of the London Spirit franchise on a multi-year contract basis.

The RCB’s successful head coach now replaces Justin Langer for the prestigious role after London finished at the penultimate position (seventh out of eight) in the 2025 edition’s points table.

Flower’s Another Successful Collaboration with RCB Director

Mo Bobat, the director of Cricket at RCB and London Spirit, once again experiences a successful collaboration with Andy Flower.

Also, it is believed that Flower could be the trusted companion of Bobat, who played a crucial role as the team’s head coach for RCB’s triumphant campaign in IPL 2025.

Here is what the director of London Spirit had to praise all about Flower’s professionalism and dedication towards the sport:

“Yeah! There is no doubt about Andy’s proven success, which is not just limited to franchise cricket but also at the international level. It would be a thrilling experience for me to work with him.

Also, it is proud to secure his services as the team’s head coach. Earlier, we both (referring to Bobat and Flower) shared a strong working bond in the past, and I’m keen to build something extra special as we are entering the new era. This could be an exciting phase for the London franchise.

We are confident enough that together we can steer the Spirit to reach greater heights in the upcoming edition of The Hundred.

On our team’s behalf (London Spirit), I would like to thank Justin Langer for his efforts in the 2025 edition. He tried his level best to lead the team with commitment and professionalism that one can look for in a man of his ability,�Bobat said.

Notable Achievements of Andy Flower as Head Coach

Here is how Andy Flower’s fortunes favored his team during his era as head coach, both at international and franchise cricket levels:

England (20A09 to 2014):

• Three Ashes Series Win (in 2009, 2010-11, and 2013)
• T20 World Cup 2010 Triumph

Trent Rocket (2021 to 2025):

• Championship Title Triumph in The Men’s Hundred 2022

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) (2023 to Present):

• Playoffs in IPL 2024
• Maiden Championship Title in IPL 2025

Andy Flower Opens Up About His New Role

Moments after Andy Flower was appointed as the new head coach of London Spirit, he shared his excitement to work with Mo Bobat:

“YES! I am very excited and thankful to join London Spirits, which is indeed the Home of Cricket.

It’s a real honor to be a part of such a famous organization and venue. Once again, working with Mo Bobat thrills me to a great extent. And I would be looking forward to working with MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) and the Tech Titans group for the first time.
 
Moreover, the new investment and the essence of private ownership add fresh energy to the tournament. I am excited to open a new chapter with London Spirits.
 
Also, I sincerely thank Mick Newell, Lisa Pursehouse, and every individual at Trent Rockets. For the past five years, I have gained tremendous experience. Throughout my life, I would be thankful to the staff members, players, and all supporters for their uncompromising commitment, dedication, as well as the memories which we have shared over the years,�/em> Flower said.