Story perspectives

World Cup Club Benefits $355 M; Expansion Push Rejected

7/22/2026

Summary

World Cup Pays Clubs

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will trigger a $355 million Club Benefits Programme payout, allocating $250 million to finals clubs, $100 million to qualifiers and $5 million for administration.
Manchester City will receive $4.4 million for six players, while Braintree Town will earn $171,000 after Tommy Smith’s New Zealand appearance.
451 clubs—including 175 non-UEFA and 73 Asian Football Confederation—will receive payments, $5,000 per player per day from May 25 to the day after national team’s last match.

Summary

Ceferin Rejects Expansion

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa both rejected further World Cup expansion, arguing it would erode prestige and questioning where the process would end.
Player-union officials warned that a larger World Cup would intensify athletes’ workload and raise welfare concerns.
Fox Sports projects tournament advertising earnings of more than $1 billion, driven by newly added hydration-break commercial slots.

History

Historical Context

In 1998 France hosted the FIFA World Cup, the first tournament to feature 32 teams, 64 matches and broadcasts in 200 countries, establishing a new commercial model. That expansion sparked lucrative TV deals and a revenue-sharing model, and today UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and AFC chief Sheikh Salman Al Khalifa oppose further enlargement while Fox Sports forecasts huge advertising revenue for 2026.

1 of 3

World Cup Pays Clubs

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will trigger a $355 million Club Benefits Programme payout, allocating $250 million to finals clubs, $100 million to qualifiers and $5 million for administration.
Manchester City will receive $4.4 million for six players, while Braintree Town will earn $171,000 after Tommy Smith’s New Zealand appearance.
451 clubs—including 175 non-UEFA and 73 Asian Football Confederation—will receive payments, $5,000 per player per day from May 25 to the day after national team’s last match.

1 / 3