Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland to reap huge award: FIFA reveals record-breaking 2025 Club World Cup prize pool
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is set to be a landmark tournament, bringing together 32 of the world’s best clubs for the first time in an expanded format. With global superstars such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland expected to feature, the competition is already generating immense anticipation. However, the latest announcement from FIFA has added another layer of excitement. The governing body has confirmed that this summer’s tournament in the United States will feature an unprecedented financial incentive, ensuring that every participating club will have a lucrative reason to perform at its best.
In a move that will reshape club soccer economics, FIFA has revealed that a record-breaking $1 billion will be distributed among participating teams at the 2025 Club World Cup. This amount far surpasses the prize money awarded in previous club and international competitions.
According to The Independent’s source close to the negotiations, this decision reflects its ambition to elevate the Club World Cup to a status comparable to the Champions League and the World Cup. The financial distribution model will include both participation fees and performance-based rewards, ensuring that clubs are compensated not just for qualifying but also for their results in the tournament.
To put FIFA’s staggering financial commitment into perspective, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar had a total prize pool of $440 million, while the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand distributed $110 million. Even UEFA’s restructured Champions League format for the upcoming season, which will feature 36 teams, is set to pay out $2.66 billion among its participants.
For clubs such as Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Chelsea, the new Club World Cup represents an opportunity not only to claim an international title but also to secure a substantial financial windfall. Reports suggest that top clubs could receive between $60 million and $90 million, depending on their progress in the tournament.
Major sponsors and broadcast deals
FIFA has already secured lucrative sponsorship and broadcasting agreements to help fund the competition. British streaming service DAZN has obtained exclusive global broadcasting rights, reportedly valued at $1.05 billion. In addition, major corporations including Coca-Cola, Bank of America, Hisense, and AB InBev have signed sponsorship deals.
These partnerships not only validate the commercial appeal of the expanded tournament but also demonstrate FIFA’s intent to position the Club World Cup as a premier global event. The revenue generated will reportedly contribute to FIFA’s broader commitment to investing in soccer development, with nearly 90% of all earnings being reinvested into the sport.
Tournament’s structure and timeline
The 2025 Club World Cup is set to kick off on June 14, with the opening match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, where Inter Miami will take on Egyptian giants Al Ahly. The tournament will span one month, culminating in the final on July 13 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
FIFA has yet to provide a detailed breakdown of how the $1 billion prize fund will be allocated, but reports indicate that at least $150 million will be set aside for solidarity payments to clubs that are not participating in the tournament. If FIFA’s financial targets are met, this figure could rise to $250 million.