FIFA and ECA sign landmark agreement to increase compensation for clubs sending players to World Cup

Global soccer governing body FIFA and the European Club Association (ECA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to increase the compensation paid to clubs that release players for the men’s World Cup. The Club Benefits Programme will now afford clubs a share of national team competition revenues in return for releasing players and also protects clubs in case their players are injured on international duty. The compensation amount has been increased by nearly 70% to $355 million for the 2026 and 2030 tournaments.

The renewed Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Monday at the ECA General Assembly in Budapest, Hungary. ECA Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi said, “We are delighted to have signed this landmark agreement. The MoU recognizes the central role of clubs in football globally and ensures that they are properly represented in decision making around issues which affect them.”

Closer working practices on future FIFA Club World Cup

Earlier this month, FIFA had announced a 32-team Club World Cup will be played every four years from June 2025, replacing its annual competition which featured seven teams. The decision was met with opposition from leagues such as Spain’s LaLiga but the MoU will now have both FIFA and the ECA working together on its various sporting and commercial aspects for the 2025 edition. FIFA and ECA will also now establish closer working practices on a future new Club World Cup and work together on future editions, including on potential structures for managing the commercial rights going forward.

FIFA also announced a newly structured international calendar which its president Gianni Infantino said had been endorsed by the ECA. “To have the new International Match Calendar endorsed by ECA provides the necessary balance between club and national team football,” Infantino said. “We have exciting projects ahead, including the new FIFA Club World Cup in 2025 and the new FIFA women’s Club World Cup. A close collaboration with clubs in Europe, and the rest of the world, will be essential for the success of those events.”

Protection for clubs in case of player injuries

The previous amount earmarked for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups was $209 million. The increase in compensation will provide a major boost for clubs that send their players to the World Cup, which can be a strain on their resources. The Club Benefits Programme will also ensure that clubs are represented in decision making around issues that affect them.

The Club Benefits Programme not only rewards clubs for releasing their players but also protects them in case their players are injured on international duty. This is a crucial factor for clubs who rely on their players for their success and cannot afford to have them miss extended periods of play due to injuries suffered while playing for their national teams.

Importance of clubs recognized

The landmark agreement signed between FIFA and the ECA recognizes the central role of clubs in football globally. This is an important acknowledgement, as clubs are the backbone of football and their contribution cannot be overstated. The agreement ensures that clubs are properly represented in decision making around issues that affect them and will provide a much-needed financial boost to clubs that release their players for international duty.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed between FIFA and the ECA is a landmark agreement that will provide much-needed compensation to clubs that release their players for the World Cup. The agreement recognizes the central role of clubs in football globally and ensures that they are properly represented in decision making around issues that affect them. The Club Benefits Programme will also protect clubs in case their players are injured on international duty, providing much-needed support for clubs who rely on their