FIFA increases club benefits program for the 2026 World Cup

FIFA has announced that it will distribute 355 million dollars to clubs whose players participate in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This amount represents a 70% increase compared to the 209 million dollars provided for the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The funds are channeled from FIFA to national federations, which then distribute them to the respective clubs. While the specific distribution method has not been officially detailed, reports suggest it will follow a similar model to previous years. In 2022, clubs received approximately 10,000 dollars per day for each player representing their national team. A significant change for 2026 is that clubs will now be compensated for players participating in the qualifying phase, not just the final tournament. This expansion of the benefit criteria contributes to the overall increase in the total budget for the program.