Referees at this year's World Cup will earn $US40,000 each after winning a 100 per cent pay rise and all those that didn't make the grade will be getting $20,000.

My son doesn't want to be a footballer anymore; he'd rather be a referee.

Everyone gets the $40,000 even the reserve referees and even if they are not called upon to do a job. "The fee per referee has doubled from South Korea and Japan four years ago when it was $20,000 each," FIFA general secretary Urs Linsi told a news conference overnight.

"For the first time we're also giving something to the referees and assistants who don't make it. They've worked hard and come a long way, even if in the end they weren't successful."

FIFA originally had 46 referees and the 16 who did not make the cut will get $20,000 each, as will 23 unsuccessful assistants.

$40,000 for a months work running around making bad decisions isn't bad.