FAI would earn €9m for World Cup qualification as FIFA reveal huge €620m prize-pot

That total – which includes €42.6m for the winner of the five-week extravaganza – represents a doubling of the envelope on the figure available four years ago at Qatar 2022.

Each of the federations at the expanded 48-nation showpiece will receive €1.28m in preparation costs and at least a further €7.7m just for competing in the group stage.

Another €1.8m is on offer if Ireland emerge from a group featuring South Africa, South Korea and co-hosts Mexico.

Before all that, for Ireland to secure a first place at the World Cup since 2002, they must hurdle two playoff stages. That starts with the semi away to Czechia on March 26 followed by a home final against either Denmark or North Macedonia three days later.

The monetary breakdown mirrors that of Euro 2016 in France. By progressing from the group through Robbie Brady’s late winner against Italy, the FAI collected a cool €11m in prize money.

Details revealed subsequently in the Irish Examiner confirmed that €2.6m of that income was distributed to players in the form of qualification and tournament bonuses.

The FAI would confirm they cleared €4.5m when overheads such as logistics, travel and bonuses were deducted.

Clearly an organisation still €38m in debt, now on an extended repayment schedule until 2036, will benefit from a successful March. Ancillary bonuses from sponsors would accrue, along with one, potentially two, home summer friendlies ahead of the squad’s departure Stateside.

Fifa’s prize-money spree announcement comes amidst a barrage of attacks from fan groups, accusing the world governing body of playing "PR games" over ticket prices.

Against the ongoing backlash arising from last week’s price revelations, they announced on Tuesday that €51 tickets would be made available in the allocations national associations sell to their most loyal fans. However, only 10% of tickets within this allocation will be available at this price.

For the England v Croatia match, for example, it would benefit around 400 out of the more than 4,000 fans able to buy tickets through the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) allocation.

The remaining tickets start at £198 for that opening match, spiking to an eye-watering £3,140 for the final in July.