African Clubs Set for Major Payday as FIFA Announces $1 Billion Prize Money for 2025 Club World Cup

FIFA has confirmed that four African clubs—Al Ahly (Egypt), Esperance (Tunisia), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), and Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)—will each receive $9.55 million for participating in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in 2025.

Scheduled to take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025, the revamped FIFA Club World Cup will feature clubs from six continental confederations, with $1 billion allocated in prize money—the largest ever for a club football competition.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the financial boost for global football, stating:
“This is the pinnacle of club football, with unprecedented rewards. Beyond the $1billioninprizemoney,anadditional$250 million will go into solidarity funding for clubs worldwide—ensuring football’s growth reaches every corner of the planet.”

The $1 billion prize pool is split into two key pillars:

1. Participation Fees ($525 million)
   • Africa, Asia, CONCACAF: $9.55 million per club
   • South America: $15.21 million per club
   • Europe: $12.81–38.19 million per club (varies by team)
   • Oceania: $3.58 million per club
2. Performance-Based Rewards ($475 million)
   • Group stage: $2millionperwin,$1 million per draw
   • Round of 16: +$7.5 million
   • Quarter-finals: +$13.125 million
   • Semi-finals: +$21 million
   • Runner-up: +$30 million
   • Champions: +$40million\ast \ast (totalpotentialpayout:\ast \ast$125 million)

The four African representatives—Al Ahly, Esperance, Sundowns, and Wydad—will each receive the $9.55 million base fee, with additional earnings possible based on performance. This marks a major financial milestone for African clubs, providing crucial funds for squad development, infrastructure, and youth programs.

FIFA confirmed that none of the revenue will be retained, with all funds distributed to clubs and reinvested in global football development. The $250 million solidarity fund will further assist smaller clubs worldwide.

With the tournament still a year away, anticipation is building as clubs prepare for the most lucrative Club World Cup in history. For Africa’s elite, this is not just a chance to compete on the world stage—but also a game-changing financial opportunity.