Arsenal have had a disappointingly slow start to the summer transfer window but will now be given a cash injection from FIFA
17:36, 20 Jul 2026
Arsenal are set to bank millions from the FIFA Club Benefits Programme following the conclusion of the World Cup. The Gunners had 15 players on the books at the tournament this summer, and three of whom waltzed away victorious from the final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday evening.
David Raya watched from the sidelines as Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino helped the reigning European champions defeat Argentina, winning the competition for just the second time in history. The night before, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, and Eberechi Eze locked horns with William Saliba's side in the third-place play-off.
The Three Lions defeated France at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, winning a bronze medal. Now that the World Cup has concluded, Arsenal are set to be compensated for their players' participation.
Last year, FIFA announced plans to allocate $355m (£264m) to the Club Benefits Programme, which pays teams for allowing their players to represent their countries at the World Cup. From the mandatory release date of players from clubs on May 25, the governing body pays $5,000 (£3,730) per day until the day after their nation's final game.
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Merino, Zubimendi and Raya reached the final of the tournament, meaning the Gunners are entitled to three 57-day compensation packages, each worth $285,000 (£212,900). Rice, Saka, Madueke, and Eze were each away with England for 55 days, each securing $275,000 (£205,150) in compensation.
Saliba banked just as much for Arsenal, having also reached the third-place play-off with France. Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard reached the quarter-finals with Norway and Belgium, respectively, earning the Gunners a combined $465,000 (£346,290).
Brazil fell short of expectations at the World Cup, crashing out in the round of 16. So, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli were only away for 41 days, each securing Arsenal $205,000 (£152,660) in compensation from FIFA.
Viktor Gyokeres, Piero Hincapie and Kai Havertz were knocked out in the last-32. They spent a combined 111 days away on international duty, charging the governing body a bill of $555,000 (£413,310).
Altogether, the Gunners can expect to receive about $3,660,000 (£2,725,000) from FIFA and its Club Benefits Programme. football.london understands that FIFA also reward any club that a player has represented in the two prior years to the World Cup, too.
So, any fee earned from the likes of Hincapie, Gyokeres, Madueke, Eze, and Zubimendi, who have either recently joined Arsenal or spent some time on loan, will be split with their former clubs.
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Although the seven-figure sum won't necessarily fund the signing of a superstar, like Vinicius Jr or Bradley Barcola, it will give Andrea Berta a little more breathing space as he looks to bolster Mikel Arteta's squad this summer.