World football governing body, FIFA, has announced a significant increase in the amount of money to be paid to clubs whose players participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and its qualifying matches.
The organisation revealed on Friday that it has raised its Club Benefits Programme fund to a record $355 million, representing a 70 per cent increase from the amount distributed during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The expanded compensation package comes ahead of the 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The competition will be the largest World Cup in history, featuring 48 teams, 104 matches and a 39-day schedule, compared to 32 teams, 64 matches and 29 days in Qatar four years ago.
Under the programme, clubs will not only receive payments for players participating in the World Cup finals but will also be compensated for players involved in qualifying matches for the first time.
Of the total fund, $250 million has been allocated to clubs whose players take part in the World Cup itself. FIFA said the minimum compensation rate will be $5,000 per player for each day spent at the tournament, although the final amount will be determined after the competition concludes.
The football body explained that payments would be calculated based on the number of days a player remains involved in the tournament and whether they are included in the official squad.
An additional $100 million has been earmarked for clubs whose players feature in World Cup qualifying matches. FIFA estimates that clubs will receive $2,362 for each player named in a match-day squad across the 905 qualifying fixtures, as well as 10 friendly matches involving the three host nations, which qualified automatically for the tournament.
The remaining $5 million will cover administrative expenses, with any surplus directed toward supporting club football development worldwide.
FIFA President, , described the enhanced compensation package as one of the major benefits of the expanded World Cup format.
According to him, the initiative will provide greater financial support across the football ecosystem while rewarding clubs that develop and release players to compete on the global stage.
FIFA also noted that compensation payments will generally be based on a player’s club registration at the time final squads are announced, although provisions have been made for players who transfer clubs during the tournament or are called up as replacements.
The governing body expects the enlarged tournament and related competitions to significantly boost its revenues. FIFA projects that its earnings for the current cycle, which includes the expanded Club World Cup introduced in 2025, will exceed those of the previous four-year cycle by more than 70 per cent.