Manchester City and Chelsea Could Earn Up to £97m from Club World Cup

Manchester City and Chelsea stand to earn as much as £97 million in prize money from this year’s FIFA Club World Cup, thanks to a record-breaking prize fund.

The tournament, set to take place in the United States from 15 June to 13 July, will see 32 teams competing for a share of £775 million in total prize money. Of this, £407 million will be shared among all participating clubs, while £368 million will be awarded based on performance.

Huge Financial Rewards for European Teams

European teams will earn more for taking part than clubs from other continents, as FIFA’s ranking system considers both sporting and commercial factors.

• The highest-ranked European club will receive £29.6 million just for participating.

• A group-stage win is worth £1.5 million.

• Teams that progress will earn:

  • £5.8 million for reaching the last 16

  • £10.2 million for reaching the quarter-finals

  • £16.3 million for reaching the semi-finals

  • £31 million for winning the final

Manchester City and Chelsea, who qualified through their Champions League victories in 2021 and 2023, could claim the maximum £97 million if they win all their games.

Club World Cup Becomes a Major Tournament

Previously an annual event with seven teams, the Club World Cup will now be held every four years, featuring clubs from all six international football confederations:

• UEFA (Europe) – 12 teams

• CONMEBOL (South America)

• AFC (Asia)

• CAF (Africa)

• CONCACAF (North & Central America)

• OFC (Oceania)

Chelsea and Manchester City will be joined by top European sides such as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, who have secured at least £40 million if they progress past the group stage.

However, smaller clubs like RB Salzburg and South American giants like Boca Juniors and Flamengo will receive significantly less – around £15 million if they qualify from the group.

Financial Boost and Potential Impact

The massive earnings could help Chelsea and Manchester City stay within financial regulations, but critics argue it could widen the gap between Europe’s richest clubs and the rest of the world.

FIFA claims the tournament will help grow football beyond Europe and distribute money to clubs outside the elite, but the biggest teams have secured a greater share of the prize pool through negotiations.

With record prize money at stake, the new-look Club World Cup now promises to be a highly competitive and commercially valuable tournament for the world’s top clubs.