FIFA to pay compensation to Uzbek clubs

The International Football Federation (FIFA) will pay a record $355 million in compensation to clubs whose players take part in the 2026 World Cup. This was reported on the organization’s official website.

According to FIFA’s press service, under the Club Benefits Programme, a record $355 million will be distributed among clubs whose players participate in both the qualifying and final stages of the 2026 World Cup.

It is noteworthy that compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, payments have increased by 70 percent. At that time, a total of $209 million was distributed among 440 clubs. Following the 2018 tournament in Russia, 416 clubs received the same amount. In Brazil in 2014, the figure stood at $70 million, while in South Africa in 2010, when the program was first introduced, it was only $40 million. For the first time, clubs will now receive compensation not only for releasing players to the World Cup finals but also for their participation in the qualifying matches.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, in which Uzbekistan’s national team will participate for the first time, will be held from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For the first time, the tournament will feature 48 national teams. The final match is scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.