Manchester City are expected to lead the rankings for FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme for the third consecutive World Cup, with the English club projected to receive approximately $4.4 million from the 2026 tournament.
FIFA is preparing to distribute a record $355 million to clubs that released players for the 2026 World Cup. The fund represents a 70% increase compared with the $209 million distributed following the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Of the total fund, $250 million will be allocated to clubs whose players participated in the final tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. FIFA has also allocated a further $100 million for clubs whose players were selected for World Cup qualifying matches. The remaining $5 million will be used to benefit club football.
Manchester City expected to top the rankings
According to calculations by The Athletic, Manchester City are expected to receive approximately $4.4 million from the final-tournament portion of FIFA’s programme.
The club’s payout has been boosted by six players reaching the final stages of the World Cup. Rayan Cherki, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly, John Stones and James Trafford were present for the third-place play-off between France and England, while Rodri started Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final.
FIFA’s system pays clubs according to the number of days their players remain with their national teams. Clubs receive approximately $5,000 per player per day, beginning with the mandatory release date of May 25 and continuing until the day after their national team’s final match in the tournament.
Barcelona and Arsenal among the biggest earners
The world’s wealthiest clubs are once again expected to dominate the top of the payout rankings. Barcelona are projected to finish second, while Arsenal are also expected to be among the leading earners.
Arsenal’s estimated payment was affected by their participation in the Champions League final on May 30, five days after the mandatory release date. The Athletic estimates that the club would have received approximately $500,000 more under different circumstances.
Crystal Palace and Sunderland also feature prominently
The rankings are not limited to Europe’s traditional superclubs. Crystal Palace, who had 12 players involved in the tournament, are expected to be the Premier League’s third-highest earners, with an estimated payout of $2.7 million.
Sunderland are also projected to receive approximately $2.2 million. The club’s players scored eight goals during the tournament, a total surpassed by only four clubs.
Premier League set for largest league payout
Premier League clubs are expected to receive approximately $34.2 million from the 2026-27 Club Benefits Programme, comfortably ahead of the Bundesliga, whose clubs are projected to receive around $18.8 million.
The largest clubs will once again collect the biggest individual payments, but the expanded World Cup has allowed FIFA’s funds to reach a broader group of clubs around the world.
The Athletic estimates that approximately $149 million of the $250 million allocated to the final tournament will be distributed among 784 clubs from 100 different leagues.
Around 451 clubs are expected to receive payments linked to the 2026 World Cup finals, up from 440 clubs following the 2022 tournament. Of those, 175 are based outside the UEFA confederation, with the Asian Football Confederation leading the way with 73 clubs.
The payments matter most to smaller clubs
While the money represents a relatively modest amount for the biggest clubs, it can make a significant difference to smaller teams.
Braintree Town, currently competing in the sixth tier of English football, are expected to receive approximately $171,000 after 36-year-old New Zealand defender Tommy Smith was selected for the World Cup squad.
The club had been placed under a transfer embargo as recently as May because of financial difficulties, making the FIFA payment particularly significant.
FIFA introduces a further $100 million qualifying fund
For the first time, FIFA is also rewarding clubs for their players’ involvement in World Cup qualifying matches.
The $100 million qualifying fund will cover players selected in matchday squads for any of the 905 qualifying matches that determined the 48 teams competing at the 2026 World Cup.
The programme is expected to involve 42,320 individual player allocations, with the qualifying fund equating to approximately $2,362 per player per match.
The final breakdown of payments will take time. Clubs have until September 10 to review a preliminary list of eligible players, while national associations must complete their reviews by October 31. FIFA will then conduct its own assessment before making the payments.
Europe’s share expected to decline
European clubs received approximately 76% of the Club Benefits Programme payments following the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. For the 2026 tournament, The Athletic estimates that UEFA clubs will receive around 70% of the $250 million allocated to the final tournament.
The decline is largely linked to the expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams. Of the 16 additional teams compared with the 2022 tournament, only three came from Europe, while 13 were drawn from other confederations.
That has brought more clubs from outside Europe into the programme and created a broader global distribution of FIFA’s World Cup payments.
The 2026 World Cup has therefore increased the size of FIFA’s financial commitment to club football. While the biggest clubs will continue to receive the largest individual payments, the expanded tournament has ensured that hundreds of clubs across the global football ecosystem will benefit from the competition.