Higher payments from FIFA to clubs, insurance cover for World Cup players

The European Club Association (ECA) has reached an agreement in principle with FIFA over continued work together, as announced at the ECA General Assembly in Budapest on Tuesday. The previous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) expired at the end of 2022. The new MoU runs until 2030.

After intensive negotiations over the past months, FIFA has now agreed to an increase in the release fees for players participating in a World Cup and in World Cup qualifiers. In future, 355 million US dollars (previously 209 million) will be paid to each of the clubs involved for the 2026 World Cup and the 2030 World Cup. The ECA and FIFA have also reached agreement on insurance issues (for World Cup qualifying matches and the World Cup tournament) as well as on the basic cornerstones of the calendar. These include, for example, the new format of the FIFA Club World Cup, which will be held every four years with 32 participants.

Oliver Kahn, FC Bayern CEO and vice-chairman of the ECA: "It's a great outcome from the clubs' point of view. Clubs will be compensated for international call-ups much more extensively than before, and our players are further protected in case of injury."

In Budapest the European clubs also renewed their opposition to the introduction of a so-called Super League. The thrust was that only together could European club football shape its future.

The ECA also reiterated that compliance with the Financial Sustainability Regulations is the basis for healthy, fair international competition. In addition, the General Assembly decided to appoint a sustainability officer within the ECA to deal with the issue of environmental protection in European club football.

Furthermore, the General Assembly initiated reforms to implement more democracy, participation, diversity and inclusion within ECA in the future. These reforms will increase the number of full members from around 240 to over 330. In addition, the ECA network will be expanded to a total of up to 500 clubs including women's clubs. Special board seats for women will be created in the future and there will be the possibility for clubs to qualify for full membership through the performance of their women's team.

Photos: ECA

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