March 6 – FIFA has announced a $1 billion prize pot for the 2025 Men’s Club World Cup. The world governing body failed to release a breakdown of the exact prize money, but it is expected to benefit the major European clubs with Chelsea and Manchester City expected to make at least $55 million from the tournament.
To address concerns that the prize money could further aggravate the inequality in domestic leagues, FIFA has also set aside $150 million as a solidarity mechanism for clubs that will not participate in the tournament.
Zurich called the $1 billion fund, that distributed to participating clubs, a “new benchmark for global club football.” FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated that “all revenue generated by the tournament will be distributed to the participating clubs and via club solidarity across the world as FIFA will not keep a single dollar”.
The European Club Association (ECA) lobbied for the interests of the European clubs participating in the tournament. Skeptical of the competition, those clubs required a strong financial incentive to put their weight behind FIFA’s club showpiece.
With the exception of likes of Brazilian side Flamengo and Egypt’s Al Ahly, European teams are also expected to generate the bulk of the interest in the 32-team event.
The $1 billion dwarfs the $440 million that was at stake at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Sports streaming giant DAZN has invested $1 billion in the broadcast rights of the first two editions of the expanded Club World Cup. At the same time, SURJ, a branch of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has acquired a stake in DAZN, which has been bleeding billions in losses.
On June 14, Inter Miami will kick off the Club World Cup against Al Ahly. The 32-team tournament, held in 12 stadiums on the east coast of the United States, will serve as a dress rehearsal for the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1745178235labto1745178235ofdlr1745178235owedi1745178235sni@i1745178235tnuk.1745178235ardni1745178235mas1745178235