FIFA has revealed the prize money for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, with the potential for a maximum payout of $125 million. This figure positions the Club World Cup in close competition with other major tournaments, such as the UEFA Champions League.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will take place between June 15 and July 13 in the United States, where for the first time, 32 of the world’s top soccer clubs will compete. The competition will feature not only a high level of sporting prestige but also a remarkable economic incentive, aligning it with the likes of the UEFA Champions League.
FIFA announced this week that all 32 participating clubs will receive prize money, with the amount varying depending on the Confederation to which each team belongs. European clubs are set to receive the highest payouts, reflecting their standing in global club soccer. The total prize pool for the competition will be an eye-popping $1 billion.
European teams will earn between $12.81 million and $38.19 million just for participating, depending on a combination of sporting and commercial factors. South American clubs will receive $15.21 million, while teams from CONCACAF, Asia, and Africa will be awarded $9.55 million. Clubs from Oceania will receive $3.58 million.
In addition to participation money, teams will also earn performance-based rewards. In the group stage, clubs will receive $2 million for each victory, while a draw will net them $1 million. Advancing to the next stages brings significantly larger bonuses: $7.5 million for the round of 16, $13.125 million for the quarterfinals, $21 million for the semifinals, $30 million for the runner-up, and a massive $40 million for the eventual champion.
This means that a top-ranked European club could earn over $125 million in total for winning the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The final amount will vary depending on the team’s ranking and progression, with clubs from other Confederations receiving less.
How much does the UEFA Champions League pay?
In comparison, the prize money for the 2025 Club World Cup pales next to the staggering amounts awarded in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, which is currently underway. This season, UEFA has set aside €2.47 billion (approximately $2.6 billion) in prize money for participating clubs.
The breakdown of this prize pool is as follows: each of the 36 clubs participating in the Champions League receives $20 million for their involvement. Performance bonuses are also substantial, with $2.2 million awarded for each victory in the group stage. Teams advancing from the round of 16 will earn $11 million, and those figures get higher as they progress. Just for winning the final, the champions will receive $25 million.
What sets the UEFA Champions League apart from the Club World Cup is its third revenue stream: marketing rights. This category represents more than a third of the total prize pool, adding significant financial benefits to the clubs involved.
The prizes of the 2022 World Cup
While the FIFA World Cup is widely regarded as the most prestigious tournament in world soccer, its prize pool is notably smaller than that of the Champions League. For the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA distributed a total of $440 million in prize money among all participating teams. The champions, Argentina, received approximately $50 million for their triumph.
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