Why Club World Cup is now worth £97m to Man City and Chelsea | OneFootball

Man City and Chelsea Eye £97m Windfall from Expanded Club World Cup

Manchester City and Chelsea stand poised to turn summer sun into silver and gold, with a potential £97 million prize at stake in FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup. For two clubs accustomed to chasing trophies, the latest incarnation of this global competition offers not just prestige but unprecedented earnings — and the financial figures are enough to make even Champions League prize pots blink.

Club World Cup Redefined and Rebranded

FIFA’s once-modest Club World Cup, previously a short, seven-team annual tournament, is undergoing a seismic transformation. From 15 June to 13 July 2025, the United States will host a 32-club spectacle staged every four years — mirroring the structure of international tournaments and tapping into a lucrative American market eager for elite football.

Gone are the days when this was an afterthought. Now, the stakes are compelling — a total prize pool of £775 million, with £407 million shared across all clubs and a performance-driven £368 million up for grabs.

Photo: IMAGO

Participation itself is now a payday, heavily weighted in favour of European clubs, thanks to FIFA’s ranking formula that combines sporting merit and commercial clout. According to the metrics, the top-ranked UEFA club will bank £29.6 million just for turning up.

Group-stage victories will bring in £1.5 million each. Reaching the last 16 earns a further £5.8 million, the quarter-finals another £10.2 million, and progression to the semi-finals delivers £16.3 million. Should a club win all of its group matches en route to lifting the trophy, the total could hit a staggering £97 million — the richest seven-game run in club football history.

Premier League Giants Leading Europe’s Charge

City and Chelsea are England’s torchbearers. Their Champions League triumphs in 2021 and 2023 respectively have secured their places among the continent’s elite. Though Liverpool — finalists in 2022 — miss out due to FIFA’s two-club-per-nation rule, Europe will still provide 12 teams to the competition, more than any other continent.

“The distribution model of the FIFA Club World Cup reflects the pinnacle of club football,” declared FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is positioning this tournament as a financial equaliser — though the figures suggest the opposite.

Photo IMAGO

While the biggest European names stand to earn close to £100 million, others will receive far less. The likes of RB Salzburg could collect around £15 million for emerging from the group stage. South American giants such as Boca Juniors, River Plate and Flamengo are similarly valued, while clubs from Africa, Asia, and North America will earn even less. Auckland City, representing Oceania, are likely to take home a modest cheque in comparison.

Earnings Boost vs Fixture Congestion

There is little doubt this reimagined Club World Cup appeals to the top clubs, not just for the revenue it promises but for the platform it provides. In pure financial terms, reaching the latter stages could yield sums on par with the UEFA Champions League.

“They should earn a minimum of £40m if they progress from the group stage and can earn up to £97m for winning it,” the report notes. In an era of strict financial controls under the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, this kind of windfall is significant. It offers both Manchester City and Chelsea a cushion — and a strategic advantage — as they continue to invest in elite squads while staying within regulatory boundaries.

Photo: IMAGO

Yet there’s an inevitable tension. The football calendar is already groaning, and many elite clubs will point to pre-season tours, commercial commitments, and recovery windows being sacrificed for FIFA’s ambitions. This expanded tournament also risks widening the financial gulf between Europe’s richest and the rest, echoing criticisms long aimed at the Champions League.

Global Showcase or Elite Power Grab?

FIFA maintains this tournament will act as a catalyst for global growth, spreading wealth and visibility across continents. Yet the reality is starker: the biggest clubs have used their negotiating power to secure a lion’s share of the funds. As lucrative as this Club World Cup may be, it reinforces the financial hierarchy already entrenched in the game.

Still, for City and Chelsea, this tournament now offers more than just another trophy to polish. It’s an opportunity to make history — competitively and commercially. And in a sport where margins matter, £97 million could fund title charges, renew contracts, or tip the balance in tight transfer races.

In the sun-baked stadiums of the United States, football’s global elite will chase glory. But make no mistake: this summer’s Club World Cup is about much more than medals. It’s about money, muscle, and maintaining a seat at the game’s top table.