FIFA has announced that clubs will receive an estimated minimum of $5,000 per day for every player participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with payments covering the entire period of a player’s involvement starting from their official release date.
The world football governing body explained that the funds will be distributed globally to all eligible clubs, including lower-tier sides that develop international players, ensuring they receive financial compensation when their players are called up for World Cup duty.
The details were published on FIFA’s official website, where the body described the initiative as a more inclusive and equitable system.
For the first time, the programme will also extend compensation to clubs whose players take part in World Cup qualifying matches.
According to FIFA, the FIFA Council has approved a $355 million fund under a renewed memorandum of understanding with the European Football Clubs, representing a 70 per cent increase compared to the 2022 edition of the scheme.
FIFA added that it will pay $2,362 for each player in a match-day squad across 905 qualifying fixtures, as well as for 10 friendlies involving each of the three host nations, which were not required to go through qualification.
The remaining $5 million will be used to cover administrative costs, while any balance will be “allocated to the benefit of global club football”.
“This is another benefit from the expanded FIFA World Cup – providing more support across the entire football ecosystem to the clubs that provide all the players who compete to shine on the global stage,” said Gianni Infantino in the press release explaining the programme.
