Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool set for huge cash injection as announcement made

A number of Premier League clubs will benefit from a major FIFA cash influx as part of the Club Benefits Programme which is attached to the 2026 World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada

Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are among the clubs which will see a share of £259 million through FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme (CBP). The initiative, which is tied to the 2026 World Cup, will also pay the clubs of players released for the World Cup Qualifiers for the first time.

The combined figure is also close to a 70 per cent rise on the £153m kitty which was distributed following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar although, during that tournament, only nations who made it to the finals were compensated.

Part of a renewed memorandum of understanding between FIFA and the European Club Association, the CBP looks to create a more diverse system for the beautiful game worldwide.

Speaking about the programme on Tuesday, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, said: “The enhanced edition of the FIFA Club Benefits Programme for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is going a step further by recognising financially the huge contribution that so many clubs and their players around the world make to the staging of both the qualifiers and the final tournament.

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“A record USD 355 million will be distributed to clubs for the release of their players, and this reinforces our solid collaboration with the European Club Association and clubs worldwide as we all look forward to a groundbreaking and globally inclusive edition of the FIFA World Cup next year.”

Running since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, 440 clubs from 51 FIFA member associations were paid by the initiative at the last World Cup. In that instalment of the prestigious tournament, 837 players were involved in the scheme, leading to an estimated release of £8,012 per player, per day.

As per FIFA’s website, England were the highest-awarded nation through the CBP in 2022, with an estimated £32.6m going to clubs. Elsewhere, Spain, Germany, Italy and France made up the rest of the top-five nations which benefited most.

With the 2026 instalment of the programme set to include compensation for the players of nations who compete in the qualifying rounds, the number of clubs benefiting from the CBP is also expected to rise substantially.

European Club Association Chairman, Nasser Al-Khelaifi said of the development: “At ECA we are pleased to have collaborated with FIFA to support the development of this innovative new FIFA Club Benefits Programme. It will ensure even more clubs across the world are rewarded for releasing players and highlights exactly how ECA’s Memorandum of Understanding with FIFA supports the ongoing growth of the global club game. .

“Clubs play a pivotal role in the success of national team football. This initiative recognises every element of it, from early development through to release for the most important games.”

It’s positive news for a number of Premier League sides including Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, who have recently saw large parts of their squads jet off on international duty for their respective nations earlier this month and will in turn be compensated after next summer’s tournament for their release.

Meanwhile, further international breaks will take place between October 6 and October 14, November 10 and November 18, and March 23 to March 31, as players and squads vie for their place in the World Cup. The 2026 World Cup is set to take place across the United States of America, Mexico and Canada between June 11 and July 19.

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