FIFA and the European Club Association (ECA) announced on Monday that the dividend paid to clubs that discharge players for the men’s World Cup has been expanded by almost 70% to $355 million for the 2026 and 2030 contests.
The Benefits Programme gives clubs a share of national team competition remunerations in return for releasing players. It also defends the clubs in case their players are injured on international duty.
The earlier amount disbursed for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups was $209m. A renewed memorandum of understanding was signed 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 them.”
