March 27, (THEWILL) – FIFA has announced a 70% increase in compensation paid to clubs that release players for the 2026 and 2030 men’s World Cups, reaching a total of $355 million.
The Club Benefits Programme ensures that clubs get a share of national team competition revenues in exchange for releasing their players for international duty. Additionally, it protects clubs from financial losses in the event of their players getting injured during international matches.
This agreement was signed by the European Club Association (ECA) and FIFA on Monday, during the ECA General Assembly in Budapest, Hungary. According to Nasser Al-Khelaifi, ECA Chairman, the renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recognises the vital role of clubs in global football and ensures that they are correctly represented in the decision-making processes affecting them.
Furthermore, both FIFA and ECA will work together to improve the sporting and commercial aspects of the 2025 Club World Cup. However, despite opposition from some leagues, FIFA has announced that a new 32-team Club World Cup will take place every four years, starting in June 2025, replacing the current annual competition, which features seven teams.
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, says that closer collaboration with clubs from around the world is crucial for the success of future events, including the new FIFA women’s Club World Cup.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
