FIFA is poised to award over $1 billion in prize money to participating clubs in the inaugural Club World Cup, scheduled to take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13.
The European Club Association (ECA), representing top European clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City, is nearing a deal with FIFA.
According to multiple sources, the 32 participating clubs, including 12 European teams, will share the record-breaking prize money across a seven-match format.
This windfall is partly fueled by FIFA’s exclusive $1 billion global TV deal with sports streaming service DAZN.
Each participating club will receive a participation fee for entering the group stage, followed by performance-based fees for advancing to subsequent rounds.
FIFA and the ECA are also negotiating substantial solidarity payments for non-participating clubs, with similar distributions planned for clubs in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the organization’s commitment to solidarity, stating, “The FIFA Club World Cup will not only be the pinnacle of club football but also a vivid demonstration of solidarity.. All revenue generated by the tournament will be distributed to participating clubs, and via club solidarity across the world.”
The ECA, representing top European clubs, is expected to secure a higher revenue share due to the significance of their clubs to the competition.
Real Madrid, however, is not part of the ECA due to their ongoing support for a breakaway European Super League.
Clubs from outside Europe have expressed support for the competition, despite limited information on participation fees and solidarity payments.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is negotiating on behalf of African club interests, while representatives from North America and Asia have expressed a positive view, albeit with limited knowledge of the negotiations.
