Former Nigeria Premier Football League champions Enyimba and Remo Stars are among the Nigerian clubs expected to benefit from FIFA’s expanded $355 million Club Benefits Programme, which now includes payments for the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches for the first time.
FIFA confirmed on Friday that clubs worldwide will receive financial rewards for releasing players during the qualifying phase, marking a major expansion of its long-standing compensation scheme.
According to FIFA, a total of $100 million has been allocated specifically for the qualifying rounds, with each club set to earn approximately $2,360 per player per match.
A further $250 million will be distributed to clubs whose players feature at the final tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with payments calculated per player per day depending on squad involvement.
Remo Stars to Receive Over $35,000
Remo Stars are projected to earn about $35,400 (approximately ?48.14 million) after releasing four players during the qualifying campaign. Their released players included:
- Adebiyi Obassa (Benin Republic) - 8 matches
- Kayode Bankole - 2 matches
- Sodiq Ismaila - 2 matches
- Franck Mawuena (Togo) - 3 matches
Enyimba to Receive About $4,720
Enyimba, meanwhile, are expected to receive around $4,720 (approximately ?6.42 million) for releasing goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo for two qualifying matches.
FIFA clarified that clubs will still qualify for payments even if released players did not feature in matchday action, as long as they were included in squad selections.
FIFA Explains Expansion
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the increased funding as a direct result of the expanded World Cup format, which has created more matches and broader participation across global football.
He noted that the programme reflects recognition of clubs’ “essential contribution” to international football, with more teams than ever expected to benefit financially.
A Bigger Reward System for Global Football
The 2026 cycle marks the most lucrative Club Benefits Programme yet, with FIFA distributing funds across nearly 1,000 combined qualifying and tournament matches.
For Nigerian clubs like Enyimba and Remo Stars, the system provides additional financial recognition for their role in developing and releasing players for national duty — a long-standing issue in African club football.