Staggering Financial Rewards
The Club World Cup (CWC) is currently taking place in the United States, featuring a revamped format that has sparked diverse opinions globally. Initially introduced in 2000, the competition will undergo a significant overhaul for its 2025 edition, expanding to include 32 teams from six continents. This includes 12 clubs from Europe competing against teams from South America (6), Africa (4), Asia (4), North America, Central America, and the Caribbean (4), along with Auckland from Oceania.
The new CWC format has garnered considerable criticism, with some players voicing concerns over an already packed schedule that could lead to exhaustion. Attendance has also been scrutinized, as some matches have seen sparse crowds during work hours in the U.S., while others attracted significant audiences. While the CWC tends to draw more interest from clubs outside Europe, the major European teams are taking the competition seriously due to the massive financial incentives at stake. We’ve delved into the potential earnings for clubs participating in the CWC.
Potential Financial Gains for Clubs at the Club World Cup
The total prize pool for the Club World Cup reaches an astounding €868 million (approximately $1 billion), divided into participation and performance components. The participation component ensures that every competing club receives financial rewards, though the distribution will not be equal among the 32 teams. FIFA will allocate funds based on a club’s ranking using ‘sporting and commercial criteria’. The highest-ranked European team will earn €34.6 million, while the lowest will receive €11.6 million. South American clubs will secure €12.9 million, and teams from North and Central America, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean will each get €8.1 million. Auckland will receive €3 million.
The performance component, however, presents substantial financial opportunities for top clubs. During the group stages, clubs earn €1.75 million for each win and €936,000 for a draw. Advancing through the tournament significantly increases earnings: €6.8 million for reaching the last 16, €11.8 million for the quarter-finals, and €19 million for the semi-finals. The losing finalist will take home €27.1 million, while the champions will receive €35 million. By adding the amounts from both the participation and performance pillars, finalist clubs could earn over €100 million throughout the tournament.