The 2026 FIFA World Cup will not only crown a new world champion—it will also generate significant financial rewards for clubs that released players for the tournament, and one of the biggest beneficiaries will be FC Barcelona.

While the Catalan giants continue their preseason preparations and evaluate potential signings for the upcoming campaign, they are set to receive €2,893,533 through FIFA's Club Benefits Programme, the initiative designed to compensate clubs for releasing players to represent their national teams at the World Cup.

In total, Barcelona had 16 players involved in the tournament's final stage, one of the highest totals of any club in world football. Several of them will feature in Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, once again highlighting the club's enormous influence on the international stage.

Why Will Barcelona Receive Less Than After Qatar 2022?

Although FIFA increased the total budget for the Club Benefits Programme to $355 million, representing roughly a 70 percent increase compared to Qatar 2022, the money now has to be distributed among a much larger number of national teams and players following the World Cup's expansion from 32 to 48 teams.

The governing body allocates $100 million to the qualification phase, paying $2,045 per player per match, while another $250 million is reserved for the final tournament, where clubs receive $4,330 per player per day—well below the $9,768 daily compensation paid during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

As a result, despite the larger overall fund, FC Barcelona will receive €2,893,533, significantly less than the €4,433,651 the club earned following Qatar 2022.

The Players Generating the Biggest Payments

Under FIFA's regulations, the full compensation is awarded to the clubs with which each player was registered during the two seasons leading up to the World Cup.

As a result, Pau Cubarsí, Eric García, Gavi, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, and Lamine Yamal will each generate approximately €225,160 for FC Barcelona.

The case of Joan García is different. Since he was registered with Espanyol during the 2024-25 season, the compensation will be divided between the two clubs: FC Barcelona will receive €150,106, while Espanyol will collect €75,053. The same principle was applied by FIFA after Qatar 2022, when the compensation related to Lionel Messi was shared between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona.

There are also several special cases within Barcelona's squad. Marcus Rashford will generate €105,504, Hamza Abdelkarim will contribute €94,819, Anthony Gordon will bring in €70,723—because he was registered before the World Cup, no payment is prorated with his previous club—and João Cancelo will add €54,414.

A World Cup Victory Beyond the Pitch

FIFA's Club Benefits Programme was created to compensate clubs for the risks associated with releasing players for international duty. Beyond losing key players for several weeks during preseason or the competitive calendar, clubs also assume the risk of injuries that can significantly impact an entire season.

In that context, FC Barcelona once again demonstrates its importance in world football. Having 16 World Cup participants, including eight players representing Spain in the final, not only provides a substantial financial boost but also reinforces the club's reputation as one of the world's leading producers of elite football talent.

Watch beIN SPORTS Xtra live for free on YouTube