According to Sporting Intelligence, the team with the biggest financial incentive to win the 2010 World Cup is the United States with a record setting mark.  Accordingly, Sporting Intelligence explains: 

 

The USA’s World Cup squad will share a bonus pot of more than $20m (£13.8m) if they defy the odds to win the tournament in South Africa this summer. The potential payout is the most lucrative confirmed bonus scheme in the history of the tournament and could net the 23 players involved $895,000 (£617,332) each should they triumph. […] The USA’s massive bonus deal has been agreed in secret as part of the most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The CBA dictates pay levels and working conditions applicable in Major League Soccer and for the USA international team.[…] If the USA win the World Cup, then US Soccer is committed to putting as much as 66.4 per cent of the prize earnings ($20.6m of $31m) straight into the players’ pockets. If the players flop, they will get just 20 per cent of US Soccer’s earnings, or $1.8m from $9m. (In addition to the $8m minimum for being in the group phase, each nation gets $1m “preparation” money).

 

By comparison, Spain holds the number two spot, alotting each player  $731,000 (£500,000) each for a World Cup victory. 

 

Make no mistake, however, no player will go home empty-handed.  Regardless of performance, each player is guarenteed a $78,447 bonus given the team is eliminated in the group stage with no points at all.  Other incentives are based on player stats, one of which offers $180,000 to players who score a goal in the group stage.

 

Editors note: At the global level, the stakes are high in terms of athletic achievement and financial gain is at a premium. However, its likely that no amount of money could boost the level at which the U.S. can compete against such steep global competition.  If only the World Cup were an American football tournament…