FIFA Unveils New Initiative for Football Clubs
In a significant move to support football clubs worldwide, FIFA has unveiled a new initiative that will allocate a portion of its substantial $355 million fund derived from the revenues of the upcoming multi-national 2026 World Cup. This program aims to financially reward clubs that release their players to participate in qualifiers for the men’s national teams.
Expanded Compensation Policy
Announced on Tuesday, FIFA’s updated policy extends beyond the players selected for the World Cup tournament itself, now including all athletes who compete in the qualifying matches leading up to the event.
Traditionally, clubs only received compensation for players involved in the final World Cup events since the initiative started back in 2010. FIFA’s latest adjustment to the policy is groundbreaking; from now on, any club permitting a player to partake in a qualifying game will receive direct payment, regardless of whether that player ultimately makes it to the World Cup.
Increased Funding and Historical Context
FIFA’s commitment to this compensation plan is part of a broader agreement established over two years ago with the European Club Association (ECA). This agreement significantly increases the funding allocation for the 2026 tournament, with FIFA initially agreeing to invest $355 million—up from $209 million distributed to clubs during the previous two World Cups held in Russia and Qatar.
In the last World Cup cycle, a total of 440 clubs across 51 member nations benefitted from the previous funding model, which allocated payments based on the duration players were part of their national team squads during the tournament. Notably, Manchester City received the largest payout, nearing $4.6 million. However, this time around, clubs may see a slight decrease in individual shares due to the expanded player pool, as FIFA has increased the tournament size from 32 to 48 teams, now encompassing qualifiers too.
Ongoing Commitment to Football Clubs
Moreover, over 900 clubs from all 55 UEFA member nations participated in a related European funding initiative, which has been in place for the last four years, inclusive of qualifying matches for various national competitions and extending through 2024. This expanded support is part of FIFA’s ongoing commitment to help football clubs, a commitment that first emerged in 2010 when the organization introduced its “club benefits program” as part of a $40 million revenue-sharing agreement with the ECA—a collaboration established prior in 2008.
