The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is fast approaching, with 32 teams—including Chelsea and Manchester City—gearing up to compete in the United States. The tournament kicks off Sunday with Al Ahly facing Inter Miami in the opener, but buzz around the revamped format remains mixed among fans, clubs, and players alike.
To boost interest and participation, FIFA has committed a staggering $1 billion prize pool (around £739 million), making it one of the most lucrative competitions in football. Of this total, $475 million (£350 million) will be distributed based on team performance, with the eventual winners eligible for up to £86.4 million.
The money doesn’t stop there. Most of the prize pool has already been distributed in the form of participation fees. Auckland City, representing Oceania, receives £2.6 million, while African, Asian, and North American clubs each receive £7 million. South American sides earn £11.2 million, and European teams get between £9.4 million and £28.2 million, depending on commercial and sporting criteria.
For top European contenders like Chelsea and Manchester City, success in the tournament could push total earnings to over £114 million—equivalent to the market value of a player like Florian Wirtz.
Here’s a breakdown of the prize money by stage:
- Group stage win: £1.4 million
- Group stage draw: £739,000
- Round of 16: £5.5 million
- Quarter-final: £9.6 million
- Semi-final: £15.5 million
- Final: £22.1 million
- Tournament winner: £29.5 million
The champion also earns the right to wear a special gold badge until 2029 and takes home a brand-new trophy.
Compared to the UEFA Champions League, which boasts a £2 billion prize pot, the Club World Cup still trails overall. Yet, the maximum prize for the CWC winner—over £114 million—edges out the Champions League’s top reward of around £102.3 million. PSG, who won the 2025 UCL title, are believed to have earned over £95 million.
For context, these figures are well above domestic rewards: Liverpool made £56.4 million from winning the Premier League, while Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph brought in just £3.91 million.