Premier League clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea are set to receive thousands of pounds each day from FIFA during the World Cup. The governing body will distribute £265 million to compensate clubs for releasing their players for the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Breakdown of the Compensation Fund
Out of the total fund, £187 million is allocated specifically for the World Cup tournament itself, while £75 million is reserved retrospectively for players who participated in the qualifying matches. The remaining funds will be used to support the health of club football globally.
How the Payments Work
The payments are part of the FIFA Club Benefit Programme. Clubs receive £3,730 per day for each player starting from May 25, the mandatory release date, until the day after the player's final match. For example, players eliminated in the group stage generate £119,500 for their club, while those reaching the final earn £212,900. With many top clubs having numerous players in the tournament, they could accumulate millions of pounds.
Contract and Transfer Scenarios
If a player's contract expires during the World Cup, the original club receives payments until June 30. If the player immediately joins another club, the original club keeps the money until June 30, after which the new club receives it. For permanent or loan transfers during the tournament, the current club receives payments until the transfer is finalized.
Number of World Cup Players per Premier League Club
- Arsenal – 16
- Aston Villa – 10
- Bournemouth – 6
- Brentford – 4
- Brighton – 8
- Burnley – 5
- Chelsea – 11
- Crystal Palace – 12
- Everton – 4
- Fulham – 7
- Leeds – 4
- Liverpool – 11
- Manchester City – 19
- Manchester United – 13
- Newcastle – 7
- Nottingham Forest – 6
- Sunderland – 11
- Tottenham – 9
- West Ham – 5
- Wolves – 7
Historical Context and Rate Changes
The FIFA Club Benefit Programme began at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and has continued ever since. However, the daily rate has more than halved compared to the 2022 Qatar World Cup, when clubs received £8,150 per day. The reduction is due to the longer tournament and the expansion to 48 teams, increasing the number of clubs sharing the fund.
