All three figures trace back to FIFA. None of them is wrong. But only one of them is prize money, and the confusion says a great deal about how the governing body's record $871 million distribution has been reported.

Every team that qualifies is now guaranteed at least $12.5 million before a single ball is kicked, with performance-based prize money stacked on top of that.

The U.S. government's new bond requirement for nationals of several participating nations threatens to create a two-tier tournament - and raises questions about competitive integrity.