Frustration is mounting among clubs worldwide over Fifa's prolonged delay in distributing £185m in solidarity payments from last summer's Club World Cup. The funds, promised to non-participating clubs to ensure broader financial distribution across football, have not been paid more than seven months after the tournament ended, with no timeline for release.
If shared equally, each top-flight club globally would receive about £50,000, but Fifa has yet to determine allocation. While the £740m prize money has been released—with winners Chelsea earning around £84m—the solidarity sum, though smaller, is vital for smaller leagues facing precarious TV deals or nonexistent revenue.
An executive from a smaller European league told the Guardian that repeated inquiries have yielded no clear answers. Clubs in other continents report similar frustrations. In Europe, there is a perception that Fifa has delayed finalising the distribution formula, with some meetings postponed. Fifa has been in talks with the European Football Clubs body, which agreed last year to reserve about 13% of Club World Cup revenue for solidarity.
A key sticking point is dividing the £185m among six confederations, which had varying representation at the tournament. Most confederations lack mechanisms for such payments, though Uefa has experience with solidarity funds for clubs missing European competitions. Fifa sources said they are in regular discussions to ensure all stakeholders benefit.
The Union of European Clubs (UEC), representing over 140 non-elite clubs, said no members have received information on payment timing. The last-minute nature of Fifa's funding deal—agreed only three months before the tournament, following a £787m deal with Dazn in December 2024—may have hindered progress.
