FIFA has announced a massive $1 billion (£775 million) prize pool for the expanded Club World Cup, set to take place this summer. Of this sum, $250 million will be allocated to clubs that are not participating in the competition, reinforcing FIFA’s commitment to broader football development.
The tournament, featuring 32 teams, promises significant financial rewards for participants. The winning club could earn as much as $100 million (£77.5 million), an amount comparable to winning the UEFA Champions League but achieved in just seven matches. The financial incentives and overall scale of the event mark a major shift in club football, positioning the Club World Cup as a marquee competition on the international stage.
The tournament has generated significant interest since its announcement, with FIFA securing a $1 billion broadcast deal with DAZN. The streaming service has exclusive rights to all matches over the four-week event. European teams will have the strongest representation, with 12 clubs set to compete.
FIFA has emphasized that all revenue from the tournament will remain within the club game. Operational costs will be covered, and the remainder will be distributed among participating teams as well as through solidarity payments to non-participating clubs. The final amount for these payments will depend on the tournament’s revenue but is targeted at a quarter of a billion dollars.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino highlighted the competition’s role in fostering global football growth. “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 at large to a scale that no other competition has ever done,” he stated. He also confirmed that FIFA’s reserves, dedicated to global football development, would remain untouched.
Manchester City and Chelsea will represent the Premier League in the tournament, alongside 16 continental champions from the past four seasons. Additional spots were assigned based on club rankings, with notable teams like Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors earning invitations. The final host nation slot was awarded to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.
The competition is set to kick off on June 14 and will take place across 11 cities in the United States. The final will be hosted at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, a 93,000-capacity venue that serves as the home of NFL teams the New York Giants and New York Jets.
