
Aug 9, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis CITY SC defender Josh Yaro (15) defends against Portland Timbers forward Jonathan Rodriguez (14) in the second hafl at CITYPARK. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-USA TODAY Sports
United States – FIFA’s highly anticipated 32-team Club World Cup is set to kick off this summer, and the stakes have never been higher, with a jaw-dropping $1 billion prize fund now on the table. The tournament, which will take place from June 14 to July 13, 2025, promises some of the most lucrative payouts in football history.
FIFA announced Wednesday that $525 million is allocated for guaranteed fees for the teams participating in the competition. The top-ranked European team – most likely Real Madrid – stands to earn $38.19 million, while teams from other continents will receive varying amounts. Auckland City from Oceania, for example, will earn $3.58 million.
But that’s just the start. Teams will also earn significant sums based on their performance across the 63 matches. For each group-stage victory, teams will pocket $2 million, while advancing to the Round of 16 will add $7.5 million to their total. The biggest payday comes for the team that lifts the trophy at the final, which will be held at MetLife Stadium near New York – a cool $40 million.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino revealed that the golden trophy is currently residing in the Oval Office after a recent visit to President Donald Trump, adding a bit of prestige to the tournament. However, the prize money announcement was delayed due to ongoing negotiations with a global broadcast deal, finalized in December with streaming service DAZN, which received significant backing from a Saudi Arabian sports agency. Saudi Arabia is also set to host the 2034 World Cup.
The competition lineup is filled with football heavyweights. Each of the 12 European teams is set to receive a minimum entry fee of $12.81 million, with payouts determined by a mix of sporting and commercial factors. The competition features some of the biggest names in football, including Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, all qualified through their recent success in the Champions League.
South American teams aren’t left out, with six clubs earning $15.21 million each just to participate. Teams from Africa, Asia, and the CONCACAF region will receive $9.55 million, with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, despite not winning the MLS Cup, also making the cut.
Meanwhile, Leon from Mexico is contesting its removal from the tournament due to shared ownership with Pachuca, another team that qualified. FIFA aims to distribute $250 million in compensation to clubs that didn’t make the cut, although the exact details on how these funds will be allocated remain unclear.
As the June start date approaches, all eyes will be on this first-of-its-kind event, where not only will football’s top clubs compete for supremacy, but the richest prize fund in the sport’s history will make this a tournament unlike any other.