FIFA has increased compensation paid to clubs that release players for the men’s World Cup by nearly 70 per cent to £355m for the 2026 and 2030 tournaments.
This was contained in a statement by the global soccer governing body and the European Club Association (ECA) on Monday.
The Club Benefits Programme affords clubs a share of national team competition revenues in return for releasing players and also protects clubs in case their players are injured on international duty.
The previous amount earmarked for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups was £170m. A renewed Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Monday at the ECA General Assembly in Budapest, Hungary.
“We are delighted to have signed this landmark agreement,” ECA Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi said.
“The MoU recognises the central role of clubs in football globally and ensures that they are properly represented in decision making around issues which affect.
This development recognizes a great leap of improvement for investment returns on players in the face of an upward review format for the 2026 and 2030 World cups.
While USA, Mexico and Canada will host the 2026 world cup, that of 2030 has not been given out to any host as countries continue to scramble for the signature of the ‘centenary’ of the mundial.