Chelsea are one win away from securing a £29 million payout in the Club World Cup after defeating Fluminense 2–0 in Tuesday’s semi-final. The victory earned the club £21.9 million, with another £7.3 million awaiting if they win the final against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.
The west London side’s earnings now stand at roughly £80 million from the tournament, according to estimates tied to FIFA’s payout structure. Though the exact participation fee varies by club, Chelsea’s position as a former Champions League winner placed them in the top earning bracket.
Enzo Maresca’s team qualified for the expanded tournament by winning the UEFA Champions League in 2023. The current format rewards progression, with group stage wins paying nearly £1.5 million each and knockout rounds offering increased payouts. Reaching the semi-final alone guaranteed Chelsea £15.2 million.
Joao Pedro, signed from Brighton for £60 million, scored both goals in the semi-final. His performance has already offset nearly a third of his fee through prize earnings.
“It’s not about the money,” Maresca said after the game. “The players are focused on football. The final is our goal.”
Despite the tournament’s high financial stakes, Maresca maintained that the club’s leadership hasn’t tied his performance to monetary expectations. “The owners haven’t pressured us about the prize. They support the team match by match,” he said before the final group game.
The total prize pool offered by FIFA is $1 billion, or approximately £726 million. The top payout of £29 million ranks among the highest single-event prizes in football history. Only a dozen transfer fees have exceeded that amount.
Chelsea’s success comes in sharp contrast to Manchester City, who were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Al-Hilal. Despite entering the competition with the highest participation bonus, City’s total earnings stopped at £37.8 million.
Club World Cup prize money now rivals traditional football competitions. For comparison, PSG received around £95 million for winning the Champions League last season but did so over 17 matches. The Club World Cup rewards teams with fewer games. The Premier League, which spans 38 matches, saw Manchester City earn £175.9 million as champions in 2023–24, while FA Cup winners Crystal Palace received just £3.9 million.
The competition’s growing influence has sparked debate across global football. European Leagues president Claudius Schafer warned in March that such prize money could skew competitive balance in domestic leagues.
“If a club from a smaller league earns $50 million here, it shifts the balance of that league,” Schafer said.
Seattle Sounders protested ahead of a group match by warming up in T-shirts reading “Club World Ca$h Grab,” referencing disputes over player bonuses. Auckland City, composed mostly of unpaid players, has also raised concerns about fairness.
Despite those arguments, Chelsea remains focused on the pitch. Sunday’s final offers both a shot at a global title and one of the largest single-event earnings in football history.
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