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By Spy Uganda
FIFA has announced a 355 million dollar Club Benefits Programme for the 2026 World Cup, with clubs set to receive payments for releasing players for both the qualifiers and the final tournament.
In a circular to member associations dated 5 June 2026, FIFA said the new package represents a 70 percent increase from the 2022 edition and is aimed at making the payment system more inclusive.
For the first time, clubs will be compensated for players who featured in the World Cup qualifying campaign, not only those who make it to the final tournament.
Under the new structure, 100 million dollars has been reserved for clubs that released players for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The money will be paid on a per-player, per-match basis.
FIFA says the anticipated payment for the qualifiers will be 2,362 dollars per player, per match. Only players on the start list, including the starting eleven and up to 12 substitutes, will be considered.
A further 250 million dollars has been set aside for clubs that release players for the final tournament, which will run from 11 June to 19 July 2026 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Payments for the final tournament will be calculated on a per-player, per-day basis, starting from the day a player is released for national duty until the day after their country’s last match. FIFA says the minimum anticipated payment will be about 5,000 dollars per player, per day.
The remaining 5 million dollars will be used for administrative costs, with the balance allocated to club football under an agreement between FIFA and European Football Clubs.
FIFA said the new model follows the renewed Memorandum of Understanding with European Football Clubs and was approved by the FIFA Council on 5 March 2025.
Clubs will register for the programme through a dedicated online platform. FIFA will send registration links to clubs using details from its Transfer Matching System or FIFA Connect ID records.
For the qualifiers, clubs will be required to review a preliminary list of players assigned to them. They will also be able to claim players they released but who may not appear on the initial list.
Clubs have until 10 September 2026 to complete their review, before member associations examine any disputed claims between 11 September and 31 October 2026. FIFA will then make the final decision on allocations.
No separate club review will be required for players released for the final tournament, as FIFA will calculate the amounts after the competition based on actual player participation.
The payments will be processed after the World Cup and distributed through the member associations of the eligible clubs, in principle by the end of 2026.
FIFA has made clear that the money is meant strictly for clubs. Member associations and players will not have any claim to the funds.
, https://www.spyuganda.com/soccer-fifa-to-pay-clubs-355-million-for-releasing-players-for-2026-world-cup/
