Chelsea and Manchester City stand to make nearly £100 million in prize money if they win this summer’s expanded Club World Cup in the United States. FIFA has confirmed that the tournament’s total prize pool will be $1 billion (£774.6m), making it one of the most lucrative club competitions in history.
The new 32-team format will see clubs from all six continental confederations compete, with European powerhouses such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain also taking part. Chelsea and City qualified as Champions League winners in 2021 and 2023, respectively, and are England’s two representatives.
The tournament, running from June 14 to July 13, will distribute £406.7 million in participation fees, with European clubs set to receive between £9.9 million and £29.6 million each based on “sporting and commercial criteria” agreed upon by the European Club Association (ECA).
A further £367.9 million will be awarded in performance-related bonuses, with group-stage victories earning clubs £1.5 million each. The winner of the final will receive £31 million in prize money, and the total earnings for an unbeaten champion could reach £96.8 million—close to the £133.8 million available to Champions League winners, but in only seven matches instead of 15.
FIFA has committed to reinvesting all revenue from the tournament into football development, including distributing £193.6 million to non-participating clubs.
The tournament’s commercial appeal is clear, with major sponsors including Coca-Cola, Hisense, AB InBev, and the Bank of America. Streaming platform DAZN has secured global broadcasting rights in a deal reportedly worth $1 billion (£774.6m).
With such high financial stakes, Chelsea and City have plenty of motivation to target Club World Cup glory this summer.