Here's how much players from the US and other countries will earn at the World Cup

winy (62)in Project HOPE • 2 years ago

The U.S. men's team returns to the World Cup this week for the first time since 2014 as play begins in Qatar — here's how much the U.S. players can earn (spoiler: it'll only get really interesting if the team pulls off a historic upset) and how they compare with some other competing countries.

KEY FACTS

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Most of the money depends on where the teams finish at the World Cup: FIFA, the organizer of the event, will distribute $440 million to the 32 national teams, including $9 million to each of the 16 teams eliminated in the group stage, $13 million to teams eliminated in the round of 16, followed by escalating sums that culminated in $30 million for the runner-up and $42 million for the winner.

Each national soccer federation determines how to divide that money, but the pay in the U.S. is already set by the collective bargaining agreement — and some of the money will go to the U.S.

The 23 members of the US Men's National Team will receive a $10,000 stipend for each match in Qatar, while 90% of any FIFA bonus they earn will be split equally between the 46 members of the men's and women's teams.

That's a guaranteed payout of $206,000 for each male player should the U.S. bow out after three group stage games, and $822,000 if they win it all.

With bookies giving the USA the 20th best chance to win the World Cup out of 32 teams, expect the payout to be on the lower end of the spectrum.

SOUTH KOREA

By comparison, South Korea gave each player a roughly $15,000 bonus for making the team and pays them about $23,000 for each win and about $8,000 for each draw, team spokesman Jay Ahn told Forbes in emailed comments. The players will also receive $76,000 in bonuses for advancing through the group stage and $150,000 in bonuses for advancing to the quarterfinals, for a total of about $390,000

GERMANY

German players will receive bonuses of about $415,000 for the World Cup, team spokeswoman Franziska Wülle told Forbes, with a bonus of about $52,000 per player if Germany reaches the round of 16.

DENMARK

Denmark players get a $124,000 bonus for making the team and can take home up to $688,000 if the team wins it all, according to the Danish Players Association website.

AUSTRALIA

According to a Sydney Morning-Herald report, the Australian players will receive a roster bonus of around $150,000 and split a 50% share of any additional prize money, bringing the total potential compensation to around $680,000.

SENEGAL

Perhaps no compensation will top the unique bonus the Senegalese players received for qualifying for the World Cup by winning the Africa Cup of Nations in February. Each player received a cash prize of $87,000 and 700 square meters of land in the country's capital Dakar and its suburbs.

KEY BACKGROUND

U.S. Soccer's unique salary structure, which awards a portion of Qatar's prize money to its women's team, comes after a multi-year high-profile labor dispute over higher pay for the U.S. men's team despite the women's team's long history of outperforming the men on the international field. phase.

FIFA's controversial decision to use Qatar as the host of the 2022 World Cup ten years ago reportedly came after FIFA accepted bribes from the Qatari government. The decision remains highly controversial, with the former FIFA boss calling Qatar's selection a "mistake" last week.

although efforts to boycott the tournament have not gained much ground. Thousands of dead migrant workers are linked to the massive construction of the tournament.