MBABANE – Eight local clubs are set for a major payday by the end of the year following the expansion of the FIFA Club Benefits Programme.
Ahead of last Thursday’s kick-off, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) provided further details regarding the new distribution principles for the programme.
The Secretary General (SG), Mattias Grafström, stated that for the first time, the programme will include contributions for players who participated in the qualifying pathways for the tournament.
These financial benefits were announced last year and towards the conclusion of the qualifying rounds for the tournament being staged in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America (USA).
Grafström noted that the FIFA Council approved the new distribution principles at its meeting on March 5, 2025, deciding that the R5.78 billion (US$355 million) allocated to the programme, which represents a 70 per cent increase compared to the 2022 edition, would be divided into two separate funds.
Approximately E1.8 billion (US$100 million) is reserved for clubs that released players for the preliminary competition. This will be distributed on a ‘per player, per match’ basis, which is set to benefit local clubs.
However, around E4.6 billion (US$250 million) is reserved for clubs that have released players for the final competition and will be distributed on a ‘per player, per day’ basis. No local club is expected to benefit from this latter fund.
Worth noting is that the qualifiers began in November 2023, where Eswatini, under the guidance of Croatian coach Zdravko ‘Loga’ Logarusic, finished bottom of Group D, thus failing to qualify. Cape Verde topped the group of six nations after 10 matches.
“The clubs eligible to benefit are those with which the respective players were registered on the date the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying match took place,” FIFA stated.
The global football governing body has also established a formula to calculate the benefits per match for eligible clubs.
“Only players on the start list (11 players and a maximum of 12 substitutes) will be taken into consideration. No benefits can be allocated in respect of players without a club,” FIFA’s Circular 1965 reads.
A club will be paid about E39 000 (US$2 362), according to yesterday’s market exchange rates, per player for each qualifying match, in contrast to the E82 800 (US$5 000) per day paid for the ongoing global showpiece.
According to Sihlangu Semnikati squad records, Royal Leopard players made the most appearances. Their 47 appearances entitle the police side to E1.833 million.
They are followed by their security forces counterparts, Green Mamba, whose players featured 38 times, while Nsingizini Hotspurs stars appeared 36 times. This guarantees Green Mamba and Nsingizini E1.482 million and E1.404 million respectively. Young Buffaloes round off the list of clubs to earn above E1 million, with 27 appearances in the 10 qualifying matches.
Other earners include Manzini Sea Birds, Mbabane Swallows, Moneni Pirates and Mbabane Highlanders, as well as some clubs beyond the border where local talent was based.
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Sihlangu players before a match at Somhlolo National Stadium. Eight local clubs to benefit over E7m for releasing their players for the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. (Pic: Ntombikayise Gwebu)