Sixth-tier Braintree Town are set to receive over £175,000 from FIFA's Club Benefit Programme during the upcoming World Cup. The tournament begins next week with Mexico facing South Africa.
FIFA has allocated $355 million (£265 million) to compensate clubs that release players for the World Cup. Braintree will benefit because defender Tommy Smith has been called up by New Zealand. The payment comes at a crucial time for the club, which was relegated from the National League and placed under a transfer embargo in May.
Manager Steve Pitt told the BBC: "It will pay myself and it will pay the players that are under contract until the end of June. It will wipe the slate clean and it may even provide a little bit of an excess as a platform to go into next season." He described the windfall as "an absolute godsend".
Smith, 36, has made 56 appearances for New Zealand and previously played for Ipswich, Sunderland, Colchester United and MK Dons. He recently said Braintree players had not been paid for the last month and that the owner was seeking investors to pay debts. Smith is out of contract and will decide his future after the World Cup.
New Zealand are in Group G with Iran, Egypt and Belgium. Braintree will receive an additional payment if New Zealand progress to the knockout stages.
