World Cup
Total of 440 clubs get share of over $200m Qatar 2022 World Cup benefits
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
World football governing body has disbursed $209 million to 440 clubs from 51 countries as benefits from the FIFA Club Benefits Programme (CBP).
The money is the share to the clubs for releasing their players to the various countries that featured at the last World Cup.
The money is calculated at a daily rate of $10,950 per player, regardless of how many minutes they played during the tournament. There wer 837 players employed at the World Cup.
The total per player is divided and distributed to the club(s) with which the player was registered in the two years leading up to the final competition.
As per standard procedure, FIFA will distribute the amounts via the member associations to which the relevant clubs are affiliated.
The FIFA CBP is part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between FIFA and the European Club Association (ECA), which was extended until 2030 at the ECA General Assembly in Budapest, Hungary, in March 2023.
Among the 440 clubs that will receive a share of the funds following the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 are a number of lower-tier teams, including 78 second-tier sides, 13 third tier clubs, five fourth tier teams and one fifth-tier outfit.
Accordingt to the FIFA President Gianni Infantino: “The FIFA Club Benefits Programme is a clear example of how the FIFA World Cup has a positive impact on club football across the world.”
“Qatar 2022 was not only the career pinnacle for many players, but also the most successful World Cup ever and one that will contribute to football development in all corners of the planet. Club football plays a key role within the football ecosystem and the FIFA Club Benefits Programme provides us with an excellent opportunity to support clubs.”
ECA also recognised the global impact of the FIFA CBP.
“We are very pleased that 440 clubs worldwide – not just ECA Members and European clubs – will benefit from significant distributions from the Club Benefits Programme, as part of the agreement between ECA and FIFA for the release of 837 players participating at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” said ECA Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaïfi.
“The Club Benefits Programme is one of the fundamental pillars of the recently renewed Memorandum of Understanding between ECA and FIFA. ECA works tirelessly for the benefit of all clubs and this is reflected by the increase in the amount to be distributed for the 2026 and 2030 editions of the FIFA World Cup to USD 355 million,” added Mr Al-Khelaïfi.
