FIFA increases compensation for clubs that send players to the World Cup

Clubs whose players participate in the World Cup or its qualifying matches will receive higher compensation this summer, FIFA announced on Friday.

FIFA said it has increased the amount allocated to its Club Benefits Programme to $355 million (306 million euros). The governing body had already announced in September that it intended a 70 percent rise from the amount distributed for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Although FIFA does not publish total revenue figures for the tournament, it estimates that this year’s revenue will be 56 percent higher than in 2022, and that over the four‑year period to 2026—including an expanded Club World Cup in 2025—it will have generated 72 percent more than in the previous cycle.

The 2026 World Cup is larger than its predecessor. The competition will feature 48 teams instead of 36, 104 matches instead of 64, and will run for 39 days compared with 29 days last time.

For the first time, clubs will also be compensated for appearances in World Cup qualifying matches.

The total fund is divided into three parts.

One portion of $250 million will cover compensation for players at the finals. FIFA has calculated a minimum payment of $5,000 per player per day spent at the World Cup, with final figures to be confirmed after the tournament concludes.

These payments will be calculated on a per‑player, per‑day basis, taking into account both squad inclusion and the duration of each player’s involvement.

A second portion of $100 million is earmarked for qualifiers. FIFA estimates it will pay $2,362 for each player in a match‑day squad across 905 qualifying games, and for 10 friendlies for each of the three host nations, which did not need to qualify.

The remaining $5 million will cover administrative costs, with any balance allocated to the benefit of global club football.

“This is another benefit from the expanded FIFA World Cup – providing more support across the entire football ecosystem to the clubs that provide all the players who compete to shine on the global stage,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in the press release announcing the programme.

The payments are based on a player’s club registration when squads are announced, but provisions exist for players who change clubs during the tournament and for replacement players.

AFP

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