FIFA has announced a $355 million (300 million euros) pay-out to clubs releasing players for 2026 World Cup – a 70% hike on the 2022 edition.
The new benefit scheme deal, was reached on Tuesday in association with the powerful European Club Association (ECA),
It includes for the first time players involved in qualifiers but not figuring in the 48-team 2026 tournament, co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Football’s world governing body noted that for the 32-team 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA distributed $209 million to 440 sides from 51 FIFA member associations,
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the enhanced edition of the FIFA Club Benefits Programme for the FIFA World Cup 2026 was going a step further
He added that it was financially recognizing the huge contribution that so many clubs and their players around the world made to the staging of both the qualifiers and the final tournament.
News edited by Favour Owonibi