March 27, 2025 - The winner of FIFA’s inaugural 32-team Club World Cup in the United States could earn $125 million, as details of the tournament’s $1 billion prize fund were revealed on Wednesday.
FIFA announced that $525 million in guaranteed fees has been allocated to participating teams for the June 14-July 13 competition, with the highest amount—$38.19 million—set for the top-ranked European team, likely Real Madrid, while Oceania’s Auckland City will receive $3.58 million.
An additional $475 million will be distributed based on results across the 63 matches, including $2 million for group stage victories, $7.5 million for reaching the round of 16, and $40 million for winning the final at MetLife Stadium near New York.
The tournament’s golden trophy has been on display in the Oval Office this month after FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented it to President Donald Trump.
Each of the 12 European teams will receive a minimum of $12.81 million as an entry fee, with payments determined by a ranking system based on sporting and commercial factors, though FIFA has not disclosed specific criteria.
Among the European clubs, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea qualified either by winning a Champions League title between 2021 and 2024 or by maintaining consistent performances over those four seasons.
A two-team limit per country was enforced unless a nation had three Champions League winners. As a result, Austria’s Salzburg secured the final European spot despite never progressing beyond the round of 16, while higher-ranked teams like Liverpool and Barcelona were ineligible due to the cap.
The six South American teams will each receive a $15.21 million entry fee.
Teams from Africa, Asia, and the CONCACAF region—including Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, despite not winning the MLS Cup last season—will each receive $9.55 million for participation.
Mexico’s León is currently disputing its exclusion from the tournament after FIFA removed the club due to shared ownership with Pachuca, which also qualified.
FIFA also plans to distribute $250 million to clubs worldwide that did not qualify for the tournament, though details on how many teams will receive payments and the exact amounts remain unclear.