UEFA is asking FIFA for a price increase and more help with costs associated with national teams’ participation in this summer’s World Cup, which is expected to generate more than $11 billion in revenue.
UEFA, which regulates football in Europe, has been asked by several European federations to lobby FIFA on their behalf. FIFA has pledged to reinvest the revenue into global football, but the organisations are unsure how much their share will be.
Some teams are concerned that the cost of playing in the World Cup in North America could exceed what they earn or that it won’t bring in much money.
Payment will be discussed in May.
The World Cup is a joint effort by the United States, Mexico and Canada, and begins on June 11 with two matches in Mexico City, then continues the next day with a match in Toronto and another in Los Angeles.
The finals of the 48-team tournament are scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The payment issue is expected to be discussed at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver in late May, according to the report, which also says each team will receive $1.5 million for preparation costs, as well as reimbursement for food, travel and accommodation for a delegation of around 50 people.
FIFA’s World Cup prize money for this summer has been increased by 50% to $655 million, up from $440 million for Qatar 2022. However, that amount will be split among 16 more teams as the tournament expands from 32 to 48 teams for the first time during this tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico. A significant percentage of that sum, however, is usually distributed to players as bonus payments, although it varies from one nation to another.
In 2022, winners Argentina received $42 million and runners-up France $30 million, while the defeated quarter-finalists received $17 million each and those eliminated in the group stage received $9 million each.
This time, the winners will receive $50 million and the runners-up $33 million, while the defeated quarter-finalists will receive $19 million and those eliminated in the group stage will receive $9 million, which, when added to the $1.5 million in preparation costs, means each nation receives a minimum of $10.5 million.
