Manchester City have emerged as the biggest beneficiaries of FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, receiving an estimated $4.4 million for releasing players to the tournament.
The English champions top the list compiled by The Athletic, ahead of Barcelona and Bayern Munich, with the payouts reflecting the number of players each club contributed to the World Cup and how far those players progressed in the competition.
Under FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme, clubs are compensated for making their players available for international duty during the World Cup. Payments are calculated based on the number of days players spend with their national teams, including preparation camps and the tournament itself.
Barcelona ranked second with an estimated $3.9 million, while Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich were third with $3.4 million.
Premier League side Arsenal claimed fourth place after earning $3.3 million, just ahead of Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid, who each received $3.2 million.
