Abu Dhabi, UAE – ADNOC Pro League clubs are poised to reap significant financial rewards as several of their players participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This comes through the compensation scheme approved by FIFA.
Emirati clubs are expected to earn nearly half a million dirhams daily. This comes as nine professional players representing their national teams participate in the tournament, reflecting the strong presence of the UAE league on the international stage.
Al Ain will benefit the most from the World Cup revenues
Al Ain tops the list of clubs benefiting most from these returns, having secured the participation of three of its players in the World Cup: Egyptian Rami Rabia, Moroccan Soufiane Rahimi, and Paraguayan Alejandro Romero “Kaku”. This gives “The Boss” (Al Ain’s nickname) the opportunity to generate substantial financial returns that could increase as the players’ national teams progress through the knockout stages.
FIFA’s program boosts club coffers
FIFA’s compensation scheme is based on the number of days a player spends with his national team. This starts from the official training camp and continues until the end of the team’s participation in the tournament. It is not related to the number of minutes played or actual participation on the field.
Al-Jazira also benefits from the participation of their striker, Simon Banza, with the Democratic Republic of Congo national team. Additionally, the club will receive a share of the revenue generated from Ibrahim Adel’s time with the team before his transfer to Danish club Nordsjælland.
Al Dhafra is also among the clubs expected to benefit from the program, thanks to the participation of Iraqi player Ibrahim Bayesh with his national team. Dibba Club will also be participating through their Iraqi striker, Mohanad Ali.
The list of beneficiaries also includes Al Ahli, who will receive financial compensation for the participation of Iranian player Saeed Ezatolahi; Al Nasr through Mehdi Ghaedi; and Kalba through Saman Ghoddos with the Iranian national team.
Compensation increases as national teams continue
Estimates suggest that daily compensation for each player could range between $12,000 and $15,000. This means that longer player stays in the tournament will significantly increase the revenue generated for clubs.
These revenues increase with the new format of the World Cup, which features 48 teams and 104 matches. This is the largest edition in the tournament’s history, thus increasing the number of playing days for players and consequently the amount of compensation allocated to clubs.
These returns represent not only economic gains but also reflect the significant development of the UAE league. They demonstrate its ability to attract international players who represent their national teams in the world’s biggest football event. Furthermore, this enhances the competition’s technical and marketing value in recent years.
