Rewards Programme for Clubs to be Introduced Before 2026 FIFA World Cup, Recognizing a New High Number of Clubs
The FIFA Club Benefits Programme (CBP) is set for an expansion in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, aiming to provide greater solidarity and a more inclusive distribution of resources across the global club football landscape.
This evolution of the CBP is seen as a fair and beneficial move by a larger number of teams, as it continues to recognise and reward clubs whose players participate in both the qualification process and the main tournament.
According to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the enhanced programme strengthens FIFA's collaboration with the European Club Association (ECA) and clubs worldwide. ECA Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaïfi welcomed the agreement as a milestone for the global club game.
The updated CBP aims to recognise and reward a larger share of clubs than ever before for releasing players to represent their nations. For the first time, the CBP will directly compensate every club whose players participate in the World Cup qualifiers or the final tournament.
The details on how clubs can register and apply for their share of the CBP will be announced in the coming weeks. However, it is confirmed that any club releasing a player for World Cup competition will receive compensation, regardless of their participation in the final tournament.
Clubs will also receive a share of the solidarity fund even if their players do not appear at the finals, as long as those players were released for World Cup competition. This move is intended to support the development of clubs of all sizes.
In the previous World Cup cycle (2022), USD 209 million was distributed among 440 clubs from 51 FIFA member associations across all six confederations. This time around, a record USD 355 million (Sh 45 billion) has been committed to club football in connection with the World Cup qualifiers and the finals, with the aim of supporting clubs of all sizes.
The CBP's impact in the last edition saw distribution among a diverse range of clubs globally. The expansion of the CBP continues to evolve, aiming to benefit a larger number of teams and acknowledge the essential contributions of clubs and their players to the World Cup.
The announcement of the CBP's details is anticipated to provide clarity on the compensation structure. The exact amount of compensation for each club has not been specified yet. Nonetheless, the expansion of the CBP is seen as a significant step in FIFA's collaboration with the European Club Association (ECA) and clubs worldwide.
