FIFA World Cup funds: SAFA faces deadline to verify PSL clubs’ claims

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has until Friday to authenticate applications from PSL clubs for their share of FIFA’s 2026 World Cup Club Benefits Programme.

The clubs had until 2 October to complete the online process through SAFA. Payments are expected before the end of 2026 and will be subject to applicable tax.

FIFA extended the original deadline from 10 September. Once the club submission period closed, the review phase for member associations began on 5 October and will continue until 13 November 2026.

FIFA’s administration will conduct a final assessment after both stages are complete. Money will then be paid to member associations, which will distribute it to the eligible clubs before the end of the year.

Fifteen clubs in the Betway Premiership, along with several teams from the Motsepe Foundation Championship, qualify for a share of the approximately R5,7 billion FIFA has set aside.

Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns are expected to be the largest beneficiaries in South Africa. Both clubs had eight players at the World Cup and will also receive further payments linked to the qualifying campaign.

Their gross income is estimated at approximately R50 million each.

Kaizer Chiefs, Sekhukhune United, Polokwane City, AmaZulu FC, Stellenbosch FC, Golden Arrows, TS Galaxy, Richards Bay FC, Durban City, Chippa United, Kruger United, Siwelele FC and Marumo Gallants are also due a share after having players involved at the tournament or in the qualifiers.

All World Cup qualifying matches played from September 2023 onwards will be included in the calculations.

Pirates and Sundowns will receive most of their money because they had the largest number of players at the finals. Kaizer Chiefs, Siwelele and Polokwane City will also benefit after each supplied one player.

Payments for tournament and qualifying matches

FIFA has allocated USD250 million (approximately R4 billion) for payments calculated on a ‘per player, per day’ basis during the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

The minimum estimate is USD5000 (approximately R83 500) per player per day.

The FIFA Club Protection Programme will provide a separate payment of USD2,362 per player for every qualifying match in which that player was included in the matchday squad of 23.

That fund totals USD100 million (approximately R1,6 billion).

FIFA’s calculation is set out as follows:

‘USD 100 million – 905 matches x 2 teams x 23 players + (10 friendly matches x 3 host countries x 23 players) = USD 2,362 per player, per match.’