FIFA spends 'huge' on clubs with players attending World Cup 2026: More than 9,363 billion VND

The World Football Federation (FIFA) has just announced a payment of up to 355 million USD (about 9,363 billion VND) to clubs with players participating in the 2026 World Cup - an increase of 70% compared to the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

World Cup 2026 with 48 teams, FIFA must spend a lot of money

According to Reuters, at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with 32 teams participating in the final round for the last time, before FIFA increased the number of teams to 48 for the 2026 World Cup with 3 co-host countries: the United States, Mexico and Canada. Thereby, the cost of paying clubs with players participating in the tournament also increased significantly.

FIFA spends a lot of money to pay clubs whose players will participate in the 2026 World Cup. This is also the tournament that famous player Messi can participate in for the last time in his career.

Photo: Reuters

Accordingly, the new welfare program agreement, signed between FIFA and the European Club Association (ECA), will for the first time include players who participated in the qualifying round but did not participate in the 2026 World Cup finals, and may also be covered, according to Reuters.

In total, FIFA is expected to pay clubs with players participating in the 2026 World Cup up to 355 million USD, an increase of 70% compared to the 2022 World Cup with 32 teams, and at that time, the world football body spent 209 million USD (about 5,511 billion VND) to distribute to 440 clubs "from 51 FIFA member associations and federations", according to FIFA announced on September 16.

“The enhanced version of the FIFA 2026 Club Benefits Programme goes a step further by recognising, financially, the enormous contributions that so many clubs and their players around the world have made to participation in both qualifying and the finals,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Meanwhile, ECA President and PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi said: "Clubs play a key role in the success of national teams, and this initiative recognizes every element of it, from the initial development stage to the debut in the most important matches."

As of September 10, 18 out of 48 teams have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, including the three co-host teams of the United States, Mexico and Canada, and 15 teams that have qualified. Of these, 6 are from Asia: Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, and Australia; 6 are from South America: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay, and Paraguay; 1 is from Oceania: New Zealand; and 2 are from Africa: Morocco and Tunisia.

Japan will be a worthy representative of Asian football at the 2026 World Cup.

Photo: Reuters

The remaining 30 places for the 2026 World Cup will be determined, including the remaining teams in the African region in the FIFA Days schedule in October. The Asian region with the fourth qualifying round will compete for the remaining 2 places. The European region will end at the end of March 2026, determining up to 16 places for the final round. The same is true for the intercontinental play-off round. The CONCACAF region will compete for 3 places and will determine the teams in November this year.

The draw for the 2026 World Cup finals is scheduled to take place on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington. With 48 teams participating, they will be divided into 12 groups of four teams each. Mexico, who will play their opening match at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, is locked in Group A. The United States is locked in Group D, while the other co-hosts, Canada, are in Group B.

The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11, 2026, to July 19, 2026. The final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/fifa-chi-khung-cho-cac-clb-co-cau-thu-du-world-cup-2026-hon-9363-ti-dong-185250917112619971.htm