A new FIFA scandal has emerged, casting a significant shadow over the expanded 2025 Club World Cup and potentially jeopardizing the future of the tournament. At the heart of the controversy are substantial unpaid solidarity payments intended for clubs not participating in the revamped competition, a brainchild of FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Unpaid solidarity payments spark controversy

A damning report, highlighted by GiveMeSport, reveals that a considerable portion of the broadcast rights money for the 2025 Club World Cup remains unpaid. Of the £740 million secured from DAZN and Saudi PIF for these rights, a staggering £185 million has not been disbursed. These outstanding funds were specifically earmarked for solidarity payments, designed to distribute a share of the tournament’s revenue throughout the global football pyramid.

The original plan was ambitious: every top-flight club worldwide was promised £50,000. However, there is currently no indication that these payments have been made. This “lesser-known” scandal, as described by GiveMeSport, has been “quietly bubbling beneath the surface” amid other criticisms surrounding Infantino’s leadership, including his proposal for a World Cup stake sell-off. The 2025 tournament marks a significant expansion for the Club World Cup, which switched to a four-year format last year. Chelsea notably won the last Club World Cup in the USA, according to the report.

2029 tournament faces uncertain future

The financial irregularities for the 2025 edition are not the only concern. The long-term viability of the Club World Cup is also in question, particularly regarding the 2029 tournament. As The Daily Express reported, this future edition currently lacks a host, and crucial agreements between FIFA and leading European clubs regarding their participation remain unresolved.

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The entire competition could be scrapped if the issue of unpaid funds persists or if a potential successor to Infantino decides to pursue a different strategic direction. Several nations have hinted at hosting the 2029 event, including:

• Australia and New Zealand

• Brazil

• Germany

• Mexico

• England

However, the most likely hosts are believed to be Qatar or the United States. Intriguingly, FIFA is reportedly considering awarding the hosting rights to Qatar as a bid to continue the growth of the sport in the North American nation, adding another layer of complexity to the tournament’s future planning.

The ongoing issues surrounding unpaid prize money and the lack of clarity for the 2029 edition create significant uncertainty for a competition that FIFA had hoped would become a flagship event in its expanded portfolio.

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