The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) will distribute $355 million among the clubs that provide players for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
As is customary every four years when this intercontinental competition for national teams takes place, world football's governing body allocates a certain amount of money to the clubs that contribute players for the tournament.
In the previous edition in Qatar 2022, FIFA had paid out $209 million, which was distributed among the clubs that released their footballers. This year, that figure will increase by 70% to $355 million.
The increase is related to the renewal of the agreement between FIFA and the European Clubs Association (ECA), which was signed in March 2023 and will be extended until 2030 under the Club Assistance Program.
Additionally, it is influenced by the fact that the number of participating teams has been increased from 32 to 48.
Furthermore, for the first time, clubs that provide players for the qualifying phase will also receive financial compensation, regardless of whether the footballers participate in the World Cup finals.
