FIFA will distribute more than £189million to clubs whose players participate in the World Cup in Qatar this winter, and Sunderland could be set to benefit. As it stands, the Black Cats could have two players going to the World Cup with Bailey Wright and Jewison Bennette expected to feature for Australia and Costa Rica.
The game’s global governing body confirmed details of its club benefits programme on Tuesday, announcing 209 million dollars (around £189m) had been set aside to dish out to clubs as recognition of their work. FIFA expects the scheme will mean a payment of just over £9,000 per player for each day he remains with his national team at the World Cup itself and during the official preparation period.
The more participants a club have, and how far each of those players progresses in the tournament, will determine the final amount a club can claim. Any club that a player has been registered with in the two years prior to the World Cup will be eligible for a share of the daily pay-out - the maximum any club could claim would be $370,000 per player if their star made it through to the final.
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That would mean Sunderland would share the £9,000 pay-out for Bennette with his former club Herediano, but would earn the full amount for Bailey Wright. The Wearsiders would also be unlikely to receive any money for players that have left the club in the last two years.
Around 416 clubs from 63 countries benefited from the 2018 Wolrd Cup programme and clubs will be able to submit claims digitally for the first time, FIFA have revealed.
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