FC Barcelona is expected to collect approximately €2.89 million from FIFA for lending its players to the 2026 World Cup, making it the second-highest recipient in the governing body’s Club Benefits Programme. Manchester City sits atop the list.

That number is actually a pay cut. Barcelona pulled in €4.43 million after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The club is sending up to 16 players to the 2026 tournament and getting less money for the trouble.

A bigger pie, smaller slices for the elite

The total pool for FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme jumped to $355 million for the 2026 cycle. That’s up roughly 70% from the $209 million allocated in 2022.

The $355 million breaks down into two main buckets. Around $100 million covers payments related to 905 qualifying matches, with clubs earning approximately $2,360 per player per match. The remaining $250 million is earmarked for the finals tournament itself.

During the tournament, clubs receive a daily rate of €4,330 for each player, covering the period from mandatory release through post-match obligations.

Who benefits from the new structure

The top recipients remain the usual suspects from European football’s upper tier. Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, and Bayern Munich are all expected to feature prominently in the payout rankings.

FIFA designed the expanded programme, renewed through a memorandum of understanding with the European Club Association, to ensure that smaller clubs get a meaningful share. For Barcelona specifically, the drop from €4.43 million to roughly €2.89 million represents a 35% decrease.

What this means for club finances and strategy

The 2026 World Cup will be the largest ever with 48 teams, up from 32. More teams means more players means more clubs affected.