World Cup money pot increased to $ 576m

Monday, 9 December 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

REUTERS: The 32 teams at next year’s World Cup finals will share a total fund of $ 576 million, including a prize-money pot of $ 358 million with the winners taking home $ 35 million, FIFA said on Thursday. The amount of money made available to the countries taking part has increased 37% from the $ 420 million on offer at the 2010 finals in South Africa. The winners’ prize money has gone up $ 5 million.

The decision was announced by FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke at a news conference following the two-day FIFA executive committee, which ended on Thursday. The runners-up in Brazil next year will pocket $ 25 million, while the third-placed team will take home $ 22 million and the fourth-placed team $ 20 million. The four teams eliminated in the quarter-finals will leave with $ 14 million; teams in the last 16 will receive $ 9 million; and those eliminated in the first round will get $ 8 million. In addition, each of the 32 finalists will receive $ 1.5 million for their “preparation costs”, up $ 500,000 on 2010. “There will also be awards of $ 70 million for the clubs whose players are taking part in the World Cup and, in addition to that, $ 20 million will be given as a legacy to Brazilian football,” Valcke said. “We will not wait for the start of the World Cup for that, those payments will start immediately and will rise to $ 100 million in the future.” Valcke confirmed that the legacy money would be ploughed into grassroots football in Brazil as well as education and health projects linked to football in the country. The grand total of $ 576 million includes a figure of $ 100 million available as insurance for players injured while playing for their national teams, known as the club protection program.