The German Football Association (DFB) on Wednesday announced that each player of the national team will receive a 350,000 euros ($411,267) bonus should Germany defend their World Cup title in Russia 2018.

Joachim Loew and his squad stand to get an increase in prize money from the 300,000 euros they each got for winning the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil, if the Germans win a fifth world title.

“For our players, it is a great motivation to become world champions back-to-back for the first time in the history of German football,” said DFB president Reinhard Grindel.

“That would be a title for the eternity and certainly worth a special bonus.

“But you can feel in this team, that the sporting challenge is the main focus and not the economic aspect.

“The cash rises to 125,000 euros for the semi-finals, 150,000 for third place and 200,000 if they lose the final on July 15 at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.”