LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) Prize money for the 32 teams at next year's World Cup in Germany will be 332 million Swiss francs, which is $280 million at the current exchange rate.
The amount given to teams, 38 percent higher than previously announced, will range from 7 million Swiss francs (currently $5.9 million) for teams beaten in the first round to 25.5 million Swiss francs ($21.5 million) for the champion, FIFA said Tuesday.
''We are not a rich confederation, but we are a comfortable confederation,'' said Sepp Blatter, president of the sport's governing body. ''And if we have more money, we will distribute more money to our national associations.''
FIFA said that at the end of 2004 it had assets of $370 million, and this ''positive financial development'' allows for more prize money.
Most of FIFA's 2004 revenues were generated by sponsorship deals for the 2006 World Cup, Blatter said.
</WIRE_BODY>
<!--END MAIN CONTENT-->Associated Press
The amount given to teams, 38 percent higher than previously announced, will range from 7 million Swiss francs (currently $5.9 million) for teams beaten in the first round to 25.5 million Swiss francs ($21.5 million) for the champion, FIFA said Tuesday.
''We are not a rich confederation, but we are a comfortable confederation,'' said Sepp Blatter, president of the sport's governing body. ''And if we have more money, we will distribute more money to our national associations.''
FIFA said that at the end of 2004 it had assets of $370 million, and this ''positive financial development'' allows for more prize money.
Most of FIFA's 2004 revenues were generated by sponsorship deals for the 2006 World Cup, Blatter said.
</WIRE_BODY>
<!--END MAIN CONTENT-->Associated Press