He 2026 World Cup Not only will it be the largest in history on the grass. It will also be in the offices. He new formatwith more teams, more matches and more days of competition, multiplies the sports impactlogistical and economic for clubs that loan players to their national teams. And there comes into play one of the great novelties of the next tournament: the aid program of the FIFA to compensate entities for releasing their players.
Antonio FernandezSenior Associate of the Sports area of Baker McKenzieanalyze for BRAND the keys to a system that is growing significantly compared to previous editions and that has become a historic demand for the clubs. “This is a program to help clubs release their players for the WC26both for the qualifying phase —first time in history— and for the final phase,” he explains. The figure also marks an important leap: “For the 2026 and 2030 editions, a substantial increase has been agreed up to 355 million dollarscompared to the 209 million “which were reserved for the 2018 and 2022 editions.”
For more modest clubs, it is a source of income that can help cushion the impact
This growth is not coincidental. It responds to a pressure that came from afar. “This represents a key milestone and responds to a constant complaint from the clubs that the association OBE “They were asking for an increase,” says Fernández. National team football moves passions, audiences and business, but the clubs are the ones who pay the salaries, assume the physical wear and tear of the players and, sometimes, suffer the cost of an injury that can alter an entire season.
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The distribution is articulated in two big packages. “The payment is distributed by FIFA according to the program and define two packages, one for the qualifiers, until 100 million dollarsand another for the final phase of the WC26until 250 million dollars. The 5 million remaining They will be assigned after deducting administrative expenses of the program,” details the lawyer.
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The first big news is in the qualifiers. Until now, compensation focused on the final phase, but the new model also recognizes the efforts of the clubs during the road to the World. “In relation to the first package, compensation is calculated per player and per match, taking into account only whether they have been called up, providing compensation of around $2,362 per player and match,” says Fernández.
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He second blockthe one in the final phase, has more nuances. There it is no longer just about being on a list, but it also has a decisive influence on how long each player remains in the tournament. “The rules are broader, but they start from the number of players released in the final call and the number of days each released player has been in the final phase of the WC26”he explains.
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The FIFA sets a minimum base, although the final figure will depend on the development of the championship. “For this second package, a minimum aid per player and day of 5,000 dollarsso the total compensation package will vary depending on the players’ progress in the tournament and the stage they manage to reach in the competition,” says Fernández. Therefore, the closing of accounts It won’t arrive until the ball stops rolling. The route of each selection will have a direct effect on the settlement.
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It is not the same as saying goodbye group stage to reach the semi-finals or final. “The system established by FIFA “It is quite clear and takes into account the participation of the players in the tournament, hence the settlement and payment process is carried out after the conclusion of the tournament,” explains the expert. The difference can be very relevant: “In a competition of 39 days plus the release periods, it radically changes being eliminated in the group stage versus continuing to compete until the final days of the tournament.”
One of the important points is that compensation is not limited to match days. Also counts full period in which the club no longer has the player available. “The compensation covers the days from when the release for the final phase occurs until the day following the national team’s last match in the competition, in such a way that not only days of actual matches as such are included,” says Fernández. The criterion, according to his vision, is correct: “What FIFA “It seeks to cover the complete release period suffered by the clubs that provide players.”
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He economic impact It has already started even before the tournament. “If we talk about income in strict terms, the players who have already participated in the qualifying windows have generated income for their clubs and they can claim these amounts through the program,” recalls Fernández. Added to this direct path is another that is more difficult to measure, but very real in the market: “In parallel is the possible player revaluation during the tournament, which can ultimately generate income for his club in the event of a future transfer.”
He World It’s window dressing. A good month can change a career, trigger a price or open a market operation. But it can also bring the side most feared by clubs: injuries. In that case, there is a specific program. “There is a specific compensation program in case of injuries of some duration which aims to provide coverage to clubs for injuries caused in certain selection windows, including the final phase of the WC26”explains Fernández.
The coverage, however, does not completely erase the problem. “They are still compensations linked to injuries and periods in which the player in question will not be available for his club,” he adds. In practice, the main blow continues to fall on the entity that has the player on the payroll: “The impact is assumed by the club“Since the player remains his employee, he continues to cover the medical costs, pay his salary and suffer the sporting impact of his injury.”
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The compensation It helps, but it does not replace the footballer. “The program grants, based on the fixed salary from the player, exclusively and under certain quantitative and temporal limits, compensation to cushion such impact,” says Fernández. That is, the FIFA It covers part of the economic damage, but it cannot restore lost points, altered planning or the loss of a key piece in the middle of the season.
The question is to what extent this compensation can become a important game for the clubs. The answer depends on the size of each entity. “It depends on the clubas it cannot be otherwise,” summarizes Fernández. For the big ones, the income may be relevant in absolute terms, but lower in comparison to their salary masses. “For those clubs like FC Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid either real Madridwho release a large number of players, perhaps this compensation does not have as much impact on the salary cost of the players they release because the salaries are very high,” he analyzes.
The scene changes when you look towards medium clubs or small. “For more modest clubs, it is a source of income that can help cushion the impact of releasing their best players,” says Fernández. There he World can have a double effect: sports, due to the international exposure of its footballers; and economical, for compensation that can help balance accounts.
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The tournament expansion It also opens the door to more countries, more internationals and more benefiting clubs. “The compensation program FIFA It is an extraordinary tool to help the most modest teams, from different parts of the world, to perceive a financial aid for the release of their players,” defends Fernández. And not only for the final phase. The inclusion of the qualifiers can be decisive for entities that may never place a player in the great showcase of the Worldbut they do give it up regularly during international windows.
It radically changes being eliminated in the group stage versus continuing to compete until the final days
“Of course, the fact of having a tournament with more participants “Not only does it enrich the competition, in every sense, but it also leads to increased income,” he points out. This redistribution can have special value in less powerful leagues, where each extraordinary income weighs more. “The fact of rewarding release for the qualifiers extraordinarily favors the clubs of those countries with a lower sporting level and whose players will hardly ever be able to access a final phase”, he emphasizes.
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Clear rules for everyone
The transparency will be another key element. Fernández highlights that the FIFA has defined specific rules to avoid conflicts and make it easier for clubs to know in advance what they can claim. “With good judgment, FIFA has established clear rules in a recent Circular on the rules of accrual, possible transfers, extinctions, liquidation and payment, which all clubs should know in advance to take the appropriate steps to collect their rights,” he explains.
There appears a important warning For entities: it is not enough to wait for income. It will be necessary to review, claim and check that everything is correctly assigned. “Clubs should check that there have been no errors in the players assigned for the purposes of the program,” highlights Fernández.
Clubs should check that there have been no errors in the assigned players
He World Cup 2026 It will be longer, bigger and more global. Also more expensive for those who support the footballers throughout the year. The FIFA tries to balance the scales with a program that does not eliminate the sporting impact of losing players, but does economically recognize that transfer. “Following a rule linked to release days and number of players is objective and fair“, concludes Fernández, “which is in line with the transparency that it has been betting on. FIFA in recent years.”
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The ball will roll in USA, Mexico and Canadabut an important part of the game is already played in the club offices. Because in the modern world Not only goals, points and playoffs are counted. Also liberation dayscall-ups, injuries, transfers and million dollars.
