Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool set for big cash windfall as FIFA make announcement

Manchester United could be among the teams set for a significant financial windfall courtesy of a FIFA programme. The 2026 World Cup, scheduled to take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada, could see several Red Devils' stars participating, potentially leading to a substantial monetary gain for the club.

FIFA has confirmed that clubs will be eligible for a share of the Club Benefits Programme (CBP), a scheme also implemented for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. For that tournament, FIFA allocated $209 million (£153m) to clubs that permitted their players to participate, despite it taking place mid-season for the Premier League.

For the 2026 World Cup, FIFA has announced a whopping 70 per cent increase in the funds available for the CBP. The sum distributed to clubs whose players feature in the tournament has now risen to $355m (£260m).

In a first for the programme, FIFA will also compensate clubs that release their players for World Cup qualifiers. United pocketed a staggering $27m (£21.9m) from their players' involvement in Qatar three years ago.

It remains to be seen which Premier League players will definitely feature in the World Cup, with qualification still underway and squad announcements several months away.

For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our Daily Express transfer newsletter.

"The enhanced edition of the FIFA Club Benefits Programme for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is going a step further by recognising financially the huge contribution that so many clubs and their players around the world make to the staging of both the qualifiers and the final tournament," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

"A record USD 355 million will be distributed to clubs for the release of their players, and this reinforces our solid collaboration with the European Club Association and clubs worldwide as we all look forward to a groundbreaking and globally inclusive edition of the FIFA World Cup next year."