The sum of a billion dollars as a pool of prizes is a cosmic amount on one side, and on the other, indecent. After all, in the World Cup with the participation of national teams, FIFA allocates only $ 440 million, and earns gigantic money on it. In the four years of 2018-22, she recorded on its accounts of $ 7.5 billion (there is also money from the Women's World Cup and other events of less importance) and almost already caught up with the IOC, which thanks to the games earned $ 7.6 billion (years 2017-2021).
A billion dollars of prizes at the World Club Championships
The World Club Championships are planning to bring $ 2 billion. income. But from the assumptions to implementation a long way. For now, only a billion dollars are sure of television rights and unknown, but certainly not stunning, the amount from sponsors (including Chinese Hinsene and American Coca Cola).
It is amazing, therefore, that FIFA has allocated as much as a billion dollars to tournament prizes, which still remains a great unknown. The head of the Federation Gianni Infantino and his supporters, however, had no other choice. European clubs nor footballers playing on the Old Continent want this tournament. In their opinion, the new event destroys the tradition that at least every two years the best players in the world could afford a longer vacation. Meanwhile, FIFA disturbs this rhythm and in the season in which the enlarged Champions League started.
FIFA was really seriously afraid that the best clubs in the world would boycott the tournament or would put up eleven matches without the biggest stars. Hence the prizes in the amount of as much as one billion euros, which will still be “unfair” divided. The best clubs from Europe will receive $ 38.19 million, clubs from South America 15.2 million, and Pariasi from the rest of the world 9.55 million, except for the ocean, which the master must settle for almost small (3.58 million). In addition, there will be common prizes for winning in every match and bonuses for promotion to each round. The winner of the World Club Championships can supply the budget with the amount of $ 125 million. This is not much less than the winner of the Champions League. Only that the triumph in European competitions requires playing 15 or 17 matches. The victory in KMŚ will require only seven matches. This is the best proof of how absurd the amount of prizes is here.
FIFA had no choice. She had to “bribe” big clubs
But FIFA had no choice. She had to “bribe” the best clubs in the world to appear in the United States at the turn of June and July in the best possible compositions. Otherwise the tournament would end in a flap and there would be no point in trying to repeat it in four years. And Infantino hopes that the event will permanently enter the football calendar and will be an opportunity to expand football geography with countries that have money, but their geographical location does not allow competition with the best clubs in the world.
Here it is worth to trace what path to FIFA went to a billion dollars with the title of television broadcasts. When Infantino probed the broadcast market, they were actually not interested. At least not for the amount that FIFA wanted to get. Finally, the federation decided that the tournament will show Dazn, a streaming platform, and pay for it round billion dollars.
The contract looks strange at first glance. Dazn is a paid platform, but the matches from KMŚ are to show for free. Secondly, Lena Blavatnik brings losses every year. In 2021 it was $ 2 billion, in 2022 – 2.21 billion. Thirdly, according to analysts, Dazn bought the rights to the club World Cup after an overstated amount.
The answer to all doubts came very quickly. He invested in Dazn Surj Sports Investment, associated with Public Investment Fund (PIF) from Saudi Arabia. He purchased 10 percent of shares in the venture for a billion dollars. This is how Dazn won a loose billion to finance a contract with FIFA.
Will it be a Saudi voice at the house of every fan?
Negotiations on the investment of the Saudi Arabia Fund in the Platform permanent – according to the New York Times – almost a year. Americans also pay attention to the fact that a week after Dazn announced the acquisition of the rights to show the club World Cup, Saudi Arabia was hosted by the world championship in 2034. Which was not a surprise, because this candidacy has long been conducive to Infantino. According to the New York Times, the head of FIFA led to the fact that the Saudis had no rival. Offers from other regions except Asia and Oceania were excluded from the competition.
However, the Arab investment in Dazn is not just about infantino for something to start his original idea of the world club championships. Saudis have far -reaching plans. They have been organizing great sports events in boxing, football or turtleneck for a long time. Dazn is to help them reach their offer to any place in the world. First of all, in the Western world. With a bit of irony, it can be said that in the future the platform can be a Soudish voice in the house of every fan. The World Club Championships will not be the last event that the Saudis would like to show for free.
They do not mean money, but about building an image of a modern, efficiently managed country, which can be a safe alternative as a place to spend a vacation or doing business. These are extensive plans to change the image of the monarchy from the Persian Gulf, which is realized by the successor of the throne of Mohammed Bin Salman. Sport is a key area since he announced the intention to diversify the economy, so that it would not be dependent only on crude oil.