How much money did clubs receive for releasing players for the 2022 World Cup?

The World Cup's winter timing left many Premier League teams frustrated about the season's temporary halt, but some clubs may have had half an eye on their bank accounts.

Several managers would have been praying for all of their players competing in Qatar to come home in one piece, with the tournament a breeding ground for injuries in the past.

However, some owners may have been hoping for their players' countries to progress through the competition, knowing that there were financial rewards for the longer a player remained there.

The payments are a part of FIFA's "Club Benefits Programme", with all the information published in a new report.

On their official website, FIFA describes how the system was designed to recognise the contribution that clubs across the world make in helping stage the World Cup.

Compensation was paid not only to the club from each individual player was released by, but also to any club that the player has represented in the two years prior to the World Cup.

For instance, in the case of Jack Grealish, both Manchester City and Aston Villa would have been financial beneficiaries of the Englishman's progress.

According to their website, FIFA distributed $209 million (£160.9 million) among all six confederations in football for players's involvement in the World Cup,

That pot was split among 440 clubs, with a total of 837 players earning their clubs some extra dough.

Clubs are paid a total of $10,950 (£8,429) per player for every day that they are at the tournament, while that figure is not dependent on a players' minutes or related to their performance at the tournament.

The report revealed that European clubs - who made up 76 per cent of players at the tournament - received by the most money at $158.90m (£122.32m), a stark comparison from the Asian Football Confederation who were handed a measly $23.78m (£18.31m).

Within Europe, English clubs again received the most income from via FIFA's scheme, as they took home $37.70m (£29.03m).

This was followed by teams in Spain at $24.40m (£18.78m), Germany $21m (£16.17m), while Italy - who didn't even qualify for the World Cup - saw their clubs receive $18.70m (£14.40m). French sides completed the top five with $16.60 (£12.78m) in compensation.

In the Premier League, Manchester City were the biggest beneficiaries by some distance as they were given $4.60m (£3.54m) for the 16 players present at the World Cup.

Close behind them were both Chelsea and Manchester United who brought in $3.30m (£2.51m), while Tottenham $2.80m (£2.18m) and Liverpool $2.40m (£1.86m) were also among the clubs who received the most.

However, the tournament was not so fruitful for other English teams. Bournemouth - who only had Welshmen Kieffer Moore and Chris Mepham in Qatar - received just $0.38m (£0.30m), while Southampton's $0.52m (£0.40m) and Nottingham Forest's $0.58m (£0.45m) profits were of little worth.

Topics: Football World Cup, Football, Premier League, Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea

Joe Adams

Joe is a Journalist for SPORTbible with a primary focus on football. He has previously covered a number of other sports including boxing, rugby and F1. Wishes he was born left-footed.

@joeadamsjourno