FIFA has announced that the winners of the
inaugural 32-team Club
World Cup, set to take place in the United States, will claim a
record-breaking $125 million, as part of a newly confirmed $1 billion prize
pool.
The
tournament, scheduled from June 14 to July 13, will feature a total prize
allocation of $525 million in guaranteed payments to participating teams. The
highest-ranked European team, expected to be Real Madrid, will receive $38.19
million, while the lowest-ranked team, Auckland City from Oceania, will earn
$3.58 million.
An additional
$475 million will be distributed based on match results throughout the 63-game
tournament. Group stage victories will earn teams $2 million each, while
advancing to the round of 16 secures $7.5 million. The champion, crowned at
MetLife Stadium near New York, will walk away with a staggering $40 million.
FIFA’s prize
money announcement had been delayed as negotiations for a global broadcast deal
extended into December. The contract was eventually sealed with DAZN, a
streaming service that later received significant investment from Saudi
Arabia’s state-backed sports agency. The Gulf nation was also confirmed as the
host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
European
teams will receive the highest guaranteed payments, with each of the 12
participating clubs securing at least $12.81 million as an entry fee. FIFA
stated that the final amounts will be determined based on "a ranking
system considering sporting and commercial criteria," though further
details were not disclosed.
The European
lineup includes top clubs such as Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris
Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, which qualified either through recent UEFA
Champions League victories or consistent performances in the competition. Due
to a two-team cap per country—except for nations with three Champions League
winners—Austria’s Salzburg secured the final European slot, despite never
advancing beyond the round of 16.
In South
America, the six participating teams will receive $15.21 million each, while
teams from Africa, Asia, and the CONCACAF region—including Lionel Messi’s Inter
Miami—will be awarded $9.55 million. Meanwhile, Mexican club León is currently
contesting FIFA’s decision to exclude it from the tournament due to its shared
ownership with Pachuca, which has already qualified.
Beyond the
competing teams, FIFA has earmarked $250 million to be distributed to clubs
worldwide that did not qualify, though details on how many clubs will benefit
and their respective payouts remain unclear.
For
comparison, the total prize pool for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar was set
at $440 million, making this Club World Cup one of the most lucrative
tournaments in football history.
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