World football governing body, FIFA on Wednesday announced it will pay a total prize of one billion dollars to participants in the Club World Cup taking place in the United States this year.
The figure is significantly more than the prize money offered for either the last men’s or women’s World Cups.
Local reports have it that the World football’s governing body has given few details about the funding of the first edition of the 32-team tournament that will take place every four years but it has signed up a broadcaster and major sponsors in recent weeks.
In a statement confirming the prize money on offer, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, said it expected to generate 2 billion Dollars in revenues from the expanded Club World Cup, as he also confirmed that a women’s edition will take place from 2028.
Infantino also revealed that this season’s UEFA Champions League, with a new 36-club format, will pay a total 2.47 billion euros to the clubs involved.
“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,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
“All revenue generated by the tournament will be distributed to the participating clubs and via club solidarity across the world as FIFA will not keep a single dollar.”
Meanwhile, British streaming service was awarded the exclusive global rights to the June 14 to July 13, 2025 tournament with a source close to the negotiations saying the contract was worth around one billion euros.
FIFA’s expansion of the tournament has been met by widespread criticism, especially in Europe, largely 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 against FIFA, accusing it of abusing its dominant position by packing the calendar.
Similarly, Champions League was also expanded by UEFA this season and some players, including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, raising prospect of a strike.
