Club World Cup: big money, many unknowns. How much will Inter Milan earn?

Al Ahly and Inter Miami open FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup, featuring 32 elite teams and nearly €1 billion in total prize distribution

The Club World Cup kicks off with €488 million (approx. £415 million) in guaranteed prize money on offer.

There’s great curiosity surrounding the tournament, which opens with Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami at 8:00 p.m. local time (2:00 a.m. in Italy, June 15). 

This FIFA-driven competition brings together 32 of the world’s top clubs — from Real Madrid and Manchester City to Inter Milan, Juventus, and Bayern Munich — and aims to become a permanent fixture on the global football calendar.

“A stunning €488 million (approx. £415M) in guaranteed prize money is up for grabs, plus another €442 million (£375M) in performance-based bonuses,” writes Libero via Fcinter1908.

“FIFA has structured the prize pool with two revenue streams: appearance fees (based on club prestige) and match results. 

The Club World Cup winner could earn up to €117 million (£99.5M) — if it wins all its matches and is a club like Real Madrid or Manchester City.”

“Inter Milan is guaranteed a minimum of €24 million (£20.4M), while Juventus is set to receive around €20 million (£17M). 

These figures may rise depending on results. In the group stage, wins are worth €1.9 million (£1.6M) and draws €900,000 (£765,000). 

Advancing to the round of 16 earns €7 million (£5.95M), quarterfinals €12.2 million (£10.4M), semifinals €19.5 million (£16.6M), while the finalist gets an additional €27.9 million (£23.7M) and the champion pockets another €37.2 million (£31.6M).”

A rich tournament, but fan interest remains uncertain

It’s an extremely lucrative tournament — but with many unknowns. 

When launching an event this ambitious, the risk of a massive flop is real.

Let’s not beat around the bush: fan interest in the Club World Cup seems limited. With matches played in American time zones, it's unlikely to attract large European viewership. There’s also real concern about half-empty stadiums due to the relatively low interest in football among U.S. sports fans.

To avoid this scenario, FIFA has reportedly started giving away tickets and slashing prices to as low as $20 per seat.