Paris: FIFA has announced that teams competing in this year’s extended club world championship in the United States will share a record $ 1 billion in prize money.

The figure is significantly more than the prize money offered for either the last men’s or the women’s world.

World Football’s governing body has provided few details of financing the first edition of the 32-team tournament, which takes place every four years, but it has signed up for a TV company and larger sponsors in recent weeks.

In a statement confirming the prize money offered, FIFA said they expected to generate $ 2 billion in revenue from the expanded club world championship. It also confirmed that a woman’s edition will take place from 2028.

“The FIFA Club World Cup will not only be the highlight of club football, but also a vibrant demonstration of solidarity that will benefit clubs on a scale that no other competition has ever done,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

“All revenue generated by the tournament will be distributed to the participating clubs and via Club Solidarity worldwide as FIFA will not hold a single dollar.”

British streaming service Dazn was awarded the exclusive global rights to the tournament, which takes place from June 14 to July 13 in December. A source close to the negotiations said the contract was worth around one billion euros ($ 1.05 billion).

FIFA has also signed sponsorship contracts with Coca-Cola, Bank of America, Chinese electronics brand Hisense and Belgian breweries AB Inbev.

In comparison, the total prize money for the 2022 men’s World Cup in Qatar was $ 440 million, while for the 2023 woman’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia it was $ 110 million.

This season UEFA Champions League, with a new 36 club format, pays a total of 2.47 billion euros ($ 2.66 billion) to the clubs involved.

Widespread criticism of the player’s welfare

FIFA’s expansion of the tournament has been met with widespread criticism, especially in Europe, largely because of concern about the player’s welfare.

Global Footbalders’ Union Fifpro and the European League Association filed a complaint to the Europe Commission in October against FIFA, which accused it of abusing its dominant position by overfilling the calendar.

The Champions League was also expanded by UEFA this season, and some players, including the Ballon d’Or winner Rodri and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, have raised the prospect of a strike.

“I think we’re close to it. I think if you ask someone player he’ll say the same thing,” Rodri said when asked in September if there was a possibility of players to strike shortly before suffering a season -ending knee injury.

“It’s not the statement from Rodri or whatever. I think it’s the player’s general meaning.”

The tournament will include 12 teams from Europe, six from South America and four each from Asia, Africa and North and Central America.

Auckland City and Lionel Messis Inter Miami end line-up.

Not all the reaction has been negative, with Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique, who insists that “everyone” would play.

“Once every four years there is this new, extremely exciting competition. Everyone will go to the club’s World Cup, ”he said last year.

The tournament will be held at 12 venues over 11 cities in the US with the final at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey, which will also host the 2026 World Cup final.