FIFA has announced a record-breaking prize money of $1 billion for the participants in the Club World Cup, scheduled to take place in the United States this year. This figure surpasses the prize money offered for either the last men’s or women’s World Cups.
The expanded 32-team tournament, which will be held every four years, is expected to generate $2 billion in revenues. FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the tournament will not only be the pinnacle of club football but also a demonstration of solidarity that will benefit clubs worldwide.
The prize money announcement comes as FIFA has secured major sponsorship deals with Coca-Cola, Bank of America, Hisense, and AB InBev. British streaming service DAZN has also acquired the exclusive global rights to the tournament.
However, the expansion of the tournament has been met with widespread criticism, particularly in Europe, due to concerns over player welfare. The global footballers’ union FIFPro and the European Leagues association have filed a complaint with the European Commission against FIFA, accusing the organization of abusing its dominant position by packing the calendar.
Despite the criticism, some coaches, such as Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique, have expressed excitement about the tournament, stating that “everyone” would want to play. The tournament will feature 12 teams from Europe, six from South America, and four each from Asia, Africa, and North and Central America.
