Manchester City surpasses entire African continent in FIFA's World Cup player fund

© Imago Images

FOOTBALL Manchester City surpasses entire African continent in FIFA's World Cup player fund

Festus Chuma 15:16 - 13.07.2023

Find out how African clubs reaped rewards despite East African players not making the cut.

In a gesture aimed at promoting global football development, FIFA has allocated substantial funds from its $7.5 billion income generated during the four-year commercial cycle, primarily linked to the 2022 men's tournament, to support various clubs across the globe.

While no Kenyan or East African club had players participating in the World Cup hosted in Qatar, African clubs as a whole received significant financial backing from FIFA, albeit less than the amount Manchester City, the Premier League and Champions League winners, received individually.

https://twitter.com/NuhuAdams_/status/1679402873308717056?s=20

Leading the pack, Manchester City was awarded a staggering $4.6 million from FIFA, surpassing the total sum disbursed to the entire African continent, despite Africa's five national teams' participation in the World Cup.

Wydad Casablanca, hailing from Morocco, emerged as the highest earner among African clubs, amassing a substantial revenue of $1,405,305 due to their country's impressive performance in the tournament, reaching the semi-finals and finishing in fourth place.

Esperance of Tunisia claimed second place with a revenue of $525,000, benefiting from their country's presence in the World Cup. Egyptian club Ahly followed closely behind, earning $420,679 and securing the third spot.

Tunisian clubs Club Africain and Etoile Sportive du Sahel occupied the fourth and fifth positions, respectively, with earnings of $312,087 and $262,810.

Zamalek, another Egyptian club, attained sixth place with a commendable $229,959 in revenue.

A total of three Cameroonian clubs received $401,515, while five Ghanaian clubs obtained $565,772. Senegal's Generation Foot, though receiving a more modest amount of $20,075, was not left empty-handed.

The distribution of funds stems from FIFA's agreement with the European Club Association (ECA), which was established in 2008 and has undergone subsequent renewals during FIFA-ECA working agreements.

As part of the settlement, FIFA pledged to allocate payments from its World Cup revenues to support clubs globally. The fund designated for each men's World Cup in 2026 and 2030 is set at an impressive $355 million.

Looking ahead, the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is set to introduce an expanded format featuring 48 teams and an estimated 1,104 selected players—a first in the history of the tournament.

This shift in structure is likely to further enhance the inclusivity and global reach of the event while potentially providing even more significant financial support to clubs worldwide.

FIFA's commitment to reinvesting its revenue back into football communities demonstrates its dedication to fostering growth and development, particularly in regions where resources and opportunities may be limited.

The financial injection received by African clubs serves as a testament to the continent's footballing prowess and highlights the potential for further advancements in African football as a result of FIFA's support.