Seoul, South Korea ? Each player on the U.S. soccer team would get a bonus of at least $118,478 if the Americans advance to the second round of the World Cup.

If the Americans somehow manage to win the tournament for the first time, players could earn up to $499,022, up from a $414,901 maximum four years ago, according to the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Following a last-place finish in the 1998 World Cup, the USSF and the players agreed to revamp the bonus system. Players earned $20,000 each for making the 1998 team, which went 0-3, and they got $5,000 for each game appearance during the tournament.

This time, players are guaranteed $25,000 each for making the roster and get only $2,500 for each appearance.

“The better we do, the more we get,” U.S. captain Claudio Reyna said.

While the bonus money could be substantial for the 11 players from Major League Soccer, it’s not much for the 12 players with European clubs, who earn far more.

“We’re not here for the money,” Reyna said.

The USSF would increase the bonus pool by $100,000 per point earned in the first round, meaning the 23 players would split $900,000 if the United States beats Portugal, co-host South Korea and Poland.

The players’ pool would increase by another $1.85 million if the Americans qualify for the second round they did so in 1994 and the pool would likely get at least $300,000 more, because three points usually is the minimum needed to advance.

If the Americans advance to the quarterfinals, the bonus pool would increase by another $1.5 million, raising the minimum bonus to $183,696 each, plus $2,500 per game played. The pool would get another $1.75 million if the Americans make the semifinals for the first time since 1930, increasing the minimum to $259,783.

An additional $2 million would go into the pool if the U.S. team advances to the final for the first time (making the minimum $346,739) and another $2.5 million would be added if the Americans win ($455,435 minimum).

Last time, the player pool would have added $1 million if the Americans made the second round, $1.2 million for the quarterfinals, $1.5 million for the semifinals, $1.7 million for the finals and $2.5 million for the title.

The advancement bonuses total $9.6 million this year, up from $7.9 million in 1998.

FIFA, soccer’s governing body, gives $2.84 million to each federation whose team made the World Cup, and adds $947,000 for each game a team plays beyond the first round.

Even though he was cut from the team after tearing a knee ligament, midfielder Chris Armas will receive the $25,000 roster bonus.