PARIS: FIFA has revealed that the teams competing in this year’s expanded Club World Cup in the United States will share a record $1 billion in prize money, a significant increase compared to previous World Cups.
This prize fund far surpasses the amounts awarded in the last men’s or women’s World Cups. FIFA has yet to provide full details on the funding for the inaugural 32-team tournament, which will take place every four years. However, the organization has secured major sponsors and a broadcasting deal in recent months.
FIFA stated that it expects to generate $2 billion in revenue from the expanded Club World Cup and confirmed that a women’s edition will be introduced in 2028.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said, “The FIFA Club World Cup will not only be the pinnacle of club football but also a vivid demonstration of solidarity that will benefit clubs on a scale no other competition has ever done.” He added that all revenue generated by the tournament would be distributed to the participating clubs and through club solidarity worldwide, with FIFA not retaining any of the funds.
British streaming service DAZN secured exclusive global rights to broadcast the tournament, which will run from June 14 to July 13. A source close to the negotiations revealed that the contract is valued at around one billion euros ($1.05 billion). FIFA has also signed sponsorship agreements with Coca-Cola, Bank of America, Chinese electronics brand Hisense, and Belgian brewers AB InBev.
For comparison, the total prize money for the 2022 men’s World Cup in Qatar was $440 million, and the 2023 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia had a prize pool of $110 million. This season’s UEFA Champions League, which has a new 36-club format, will distribute a total of 2.47 billion euros ($2.66 billion) to its participating clubs.
Criticism Over Player Welfare Concerns
FIFA’s expansion of the Club World Cup has faced significant criticism, particularly in Europe, mainly due to concerns over player welfare. The global footballers’ union FIFPro and the European Leagues association filed a complaint with the European Commission in October, accusing FIFA of overloading the calendar and abusing its dominant position.
The recent expansion of the Champions League by UEFA, along with the new Club World Cup, has raised alarms about player burnout. Several prominent players, including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, have discussed the possibility of a strike due to the congested schedule.
“I think we are close to that,” said Rodri in September. “If you ask any player, they will say the same. It’s not just my opinion, it’s the general opinion of the players.”
Tournament Format and Teams
The expanded Club World Cup will feature 12 teams from Europe, six from South America, and four each from Asia, Africa, and North and Central America. Auckland City and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will complete the lineup.
Despite the criticism, there has been some positive reaction. Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique noted that the competition, which occurs once every four years, is “extremely exciting” and “everyone would want to play.”
The tournament will take place across 12 venues in 11 cities across the United States, with the final set for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which will also host the 2026 World Cup final.
