World Cup: Enyimba, Remo Stars to Benefit from FIFA $355m Club Support Fund

FIFA has announced that Nigerian clubs Enyimba and Remo Stars will be among the beneficiaries of its expanded $355 million Club Benefits Programme linked to the 2026 World Cup qualifying series and final tournament.

According to FIFA, the programme, approved by the FIFA Council, marks a 70 per cent increase compared to the 2022 edition and now includes compensation for clubs whose players participated in World Cup qualifiers for the first time.

A total of $100 million has been allocated for the qualifying phase, with payments distributed on a per-player, per-match basis. FIFA stated that clubs will earn approximately $2,360 for each player released per match during the qualification campaign.

Another $250 million has been reserved for the final tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, scheduled for June 11 to July 19, 2026. This will be shared among clubs whose players are selected for national team squads, with payments calculated per player per day of participation. FIFA estimates a minimum of about $5,000 per player per day.

The remaining $5 million will be used to cover administrative costs and support global club football development under an agreement between FIFA and European Club Football bodies.

FIFA said the inclusion of qualifying matches significantly broadens the scope of the programme, ensuring more clubs benefit financially from releasing players for international duty.

During the 2023 to 2025 qualifying period, Remo Stars released four players for international duty, including Kayode Bankole and Sodiq Ismaila for Nigeria, Adebiyi Obassa for Benin Republic, and Franck Mawuena for Togo. Enyimba, on the other hand, released goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo during the campaign.

Based on FIFA’s calculation, Remo Stars are expected to earn about $35,400, while Enyimba will receive approximately $4,720 from the programme.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the expanded tournament format made it possible to increase financial rewards for clubs, stressing that they play a key role in developing players for international competition.

He noted that the initiative strengthens the global football ecosystem by ensuring clubs are rewarded for their contribution to national team success.