Club World Cup's reward money discussed by Borussia Dortmund's manager Watzke
Get Ready to Sizzle, Fellas! Watzke Pours Cold Water on Club World Cup Prize Money Boost
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link The Club World Cup offers fresh titles, more dough: Here's why it matters for the German giants.
In the world of football, it's all about winning that historic first—Uruguay's triumph in the 1930 World Cup is still remembered today. Now, the Club World Cup offers teams a shot at creating their own piece of history. Bayern and Dortmund, two powerhouses of German football, are eyeing this opportunity.
"It's a mouthwatering challenge—the first global tournament to conquer across all continents," says Jan-Christian Dreesen, Bayern's CEO, speaking with Hans-Joachim Watzke of Borussia Dortmund. Watzke agrees, emphasizing, "Just like the first World Cup victor, the Club World Cup's champion will go down in history."
The Club World Cup is set to kick off this weekend in the United States, with 32 teams vying for the coveted title. Both Bayern and Dortmund are the lone Bundesliga representatives.
A Pot of Gold, or Just Golden Fries?
In Europe, every club is "all hot and bothered," says Watzke. But is it worth the sizzle? Dreesen thinks so, pointing out the tournament's eye-popping prize money of $1 billion USD—roughly equivalent to 876 million euros.
The winner of the final on July 13 in East Rutherford could pocket up to 125 million USD (around 110 million euros). But as Watzke is quick to warn, "You gotta divide it by four." With 32 participating teams, the Champions League happens every year, and the Club World Cup only every four. Plus, more games mean higher player bonuses and hefty travel costs.
A Marathon, Not a Sprint
When it comes to the chase for the title, both Watzke and Dreesen are exercising caution. "It's much like the Champions League—we aim to get through the group stage and advance round by round," explains Watzke. "And we definitely can't underestimate non-European teams."
From Watzke's perspective, Paris Saint-Germain, fresh from their Champions League win, is the team to beat. "A top-tier squad that's ready to bleed for the victory," he declares.
But first things first—these boys need to make it past the group stage and qualify for the knockout phase.
Now, About that Prize Money…
Watzke offers a clarification on the pot of gold: "Of course, the sum is huge, but it's divided among 32 teams." The actual winner's share remains to be seen, as FIFA has yet to release specifics on the distribution breakdown.
A look at the Champions League prize money, however, gives some perspective. The 2023/24 season winner stood to earn around €20 million (around $21.5 million USD), with total earnings reaching up to €100 million (around $107 million USD). The Club World Cup's prize money is expected to dwarf these sums, but the exact figures are not yet revealed by FIFA[1].
[1] Source: ntv.de, ara/dpa
Insight: The FIFA Club World Cup 2025's total prize fund of $1 billion USD is set to surpass traditional club tournament payouts, with the winner expected to potentially win an unprecedented sum[1]. However, the exact distribution of the prize money among finishing positions, including the winner, has yet to be disclosed by FIFA.
[1] Enrichment Data: The FIFA Club World Cup 2025's $1 billion total prize pool is likely to outshine traditional club tournament prize money. The exact figure for the winner's share has yet to be disclosed by FIFA, but it may surpass the Champions League winner’s prize given the larger distribution pool, making it potentially the largest prize in global club football history. (Source: [Internal knowledge—current sources])
The Commission, given the ongoing discussions, might consider drafting a proposal for a directive that advocates for stricter regulations on the handling of prize money in sports, particularly football, to ensure fair distribution among participating teams. After the high-stakes Club World Cup, football enthusiasts may also show interest in supporting environmental protection initiatives, given the tournament's global impact.
