File photo. Qatar versus Ecuador in Al Bayt Stadium. Photo by Rajan/ The Peninsula.
Doha, Qatar: Following the most successful FIFA World Cup ever, 440 clubs from 51 member associations across all six confederations will benefit from the FIFA Club Benefits Programme (CBP) by receiving a share of the revenue for the release of players to participate at the final tournament in Qatar.
This serves to confirm the positive impact of FIFA’s showpiece tournament on club football and the fundamental role that clubs play in player development and the release of players to represent their national teams.
The FIFA CBP is part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between FIFA and the European Club Association (ECA), which was extended until 2030 at the ECA General Assembly in Budapest, Hungary, in March 2023.
Among the 440 clubs that will receive a share of the funds following the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 are a number of lower-tier teams, including 78 second-tier sides, 13 third-tier clubs, five fourth-tier teams and one fifth-tier outfit.
Gianni Infantino, FIFA President
FIFA will distribute a total of $209m following the release of 837 footballers for a rounded per player daily amount of $10,950, regardless of how many minutes they played during the tournament.
The total per player is divided and distributed to the club(s) with which the player was registered in the two years leading up to the final competition. As per standard procedure, FIFA will distribute the amounts via the member associations to which the relevant clubs are affiliated.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “The FIFA Club Benefits Programme is a clear example of how the FIFA World Cup has a positive impact on club football across the world.”
“Qatar 2022 was not only the career pinnacle for many players, but also the most successful World Cup ever and one that will contribute to football development in all corners of the planet. Club football plays a key role within the football ecosystem and the FIFA Club Benefits Programme provides us with an excellent opportunity to support clubs.”
ECA also recognised the global impact of the FIFA CBP.
ECA Chairman Nasser Al Khelaifi
“We are very pleased that 440 clubs worldwide – not just ECA Members and European clubs – will benefit from significant distributions from the Club Benefits Programme, as part of the agreement between ECA and FIFA for the release of 837 players participating at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” said ECA Chairman Nasser Al Khelaifi.
“The Club Benefits Programme is one of the fundamental pillars of the recently renewed Memorandum of Understanding between ECA and FIFA. ECA works tirelessly for the benefit of all clubs and this is reflected by the increase in the amount to be distributed for the 2026 and 2030 editions of the FIFA World Cup to $355m,” added Al Khelaifi.
Under the new MoU signed earlier this year by FIFA and ECA, $355m will be distributed to clubs under the programme for the 2026 and 2030 editions of the FIFA World Cup.
