Simba and other clubs in the Tanzanian Premier League will be among the beneficiaries of financial compensation from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) for releasing their players to represent various national teams in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
This financial allocation is part of FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme, which was agreed upon in March 2023 between FIFA and the European Club Association (ECA).
Unlike in the past, when clubs were compensated only for releasing players to participate in the World Cup finals, this time payments will also cover clubs whose players are called up for World Cup qualifying matches played across all six continents.
To implement this plan, FIFA has set aside $355 million, which will be distributed among clubs whose players feature in World Cup qualifiers.
This $355 million allocation (approximately TSh 873 billion) represents an increase of nearly 70% compared to what FIFA distributed to clubs whose players took part in the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar.
“The enhanced phase of the FIFA Club Benefits Programme for the 2026 World Cup goes a step further in recognizing the enormous contribution made by many clubs and their players worldwide in the qualification process and final tournament. A record amount of $355 million will be distributed to clubs for releasing their players. This reinforces our strong cooperation with the European Club Association and clubs worldwide as we look forward to an inclusive and global edition of the FIFA World Cup next year,” read the statement.
According to FIFA, the funds will be deposited directly into the clubs’ accounts.
