Manchester City tops the list of clubs expected to receive the highest compensation from FIFA for their players' participation in the 2026 World Cup, with an estimated total of $4.4 million, according to estimates prepared by The Athletic based on the distribution mechanism outlined in FIFA Circular No. 1965.

European dominance on the list

Barcelona came second with expected revenues of $3.9 million, followed by Bayern Munich with $3.4 million, then Arsenal with $3.3 million, while Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid shared fifth and sixth places with estimated revenues of $3.2 million each.

Crystal Palace ranked seventh with expected revenues of $2.7 million, while Manchester United and Real Madrid were eighth and ninth with $2.6 million each, followed by Milan in tenth place with $2.4 million.

These estimates are based on a study covering all clubs eligible for FIFA compensation, while the published ranking is limited to the ten highest-earning clubs.

Program worth $209 million

FIFA has allocated $209 million for the club compensation program for the 2026 World Cup, a program separate from the financial prizes for the Club World Cup, which total $1 billion, in addition to $250 million under the solidarity program dedicated to the development of football at the club level.

How does FIFA calculate compensation?

A club receives $5,000 per day for each player participating with their national team in the World Cup, with compensation starting from the date players are released to national teams on May 25 until the day after the team's last match in the tournament. FIFA also grants clubs $2,362 for each qualifying match in which the player is included in the official squad.

The daily compensation amount has decreased compared to the 2022 Qatar World Cup, when it was $10,950 per player, due to the increased duration of the tournament and the expansion of participating teams to 48. According to the program's mechanism, a club receives at least $160,000 for a player who exits in the first round, while compensation may rise to around $285,000 for a player whose team reaches the final match.