FIFA will pay a total prize money of $1 billion to participants in the World clubs Cup tournament taking place in the United States this year.
Thescale news gathered from reliable sources close to the world football organisation that the figure is significantly higher than the prize money offered for either the last men’s or women’s World Cups.
However, FIFA has so far given few details about the funding of the first edition of the 32-team tournament that will take place every four years, but it has signed up a broadcaster and major sponsors in recent weeks.
British streaming service, DAZN is awarded the exclusive global rights to the June 14 -July 13 tournament in December with one source close to the negotiations saying the contract was worth around one billion euros ($1.05 billion).
FIFA has also secured sponsorship agreements with major brands like Coca-Cola, Bank of America, Chinese electronics company Hisense, and Belgian brewer AB InBev.
In another development, the newly expanded UEFA Champions League, featuring 36 clubs will distribute €2.47 billion ($2.66 billion) in prize money this season.
Despite the mouth-watering sums involved, FIFA has received criticisms for the Club World Cup with the global footballers’ union (FIFPro) and European Leagues association filing complaints with the European Commission, accusing FIFA of exploiting its position and overloading the football calendar, raising concerns over players welfare.
The tournament will feature 12 teams from Europe, six from South America, and four each from Asia, Africa, and North and Central America, with Auckland City and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami completing the line-up.
Elite European clubs like Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Manchester City are also in line to secure a substantial sum from the lucrative prize pool. The European Clubs Association (ECA) continues negotiations on behalf of European clubs, with discussions also ongoing regarding solidarity payments for non-participating clubs.
The tournament will be hosted across 12 venues in 11 U.S. cities, culminating in the final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, which will also stage the 2026 World Cup final.
Meanwhile, FIFA is set to introduce a historic change for the 2026 World Cup by adding a halftime show to the final. Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Phil Harvey have been tasked with curating a lineup of artists for the first-ever halftime performance at the world’s biggest football event.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the news at a press event in Dallas, where he outlined plans for the tournament set to take place in North America. “I can confirm the first ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York, New Jersey, in association with Global Citizen. This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world.”
Typically, soccer halftime breaks last around 15 minutes, but FIFA may extend the intermission to accommodate a larger-scale performance, as seen in the Super Bowl. With Coldplay’s history of delivering massive live performances, anticipation is already building for what could be a groundbreaking entertainment spectacle at the World Cup final.
