Manchester United are set to be given a tidy sum from FIFA which could come in handy during the January transfer window.
That's because FIFA will pay clubs for every day each of their players is away representing their countries in this winter's tournament with their Club Benefits Programme. The scheme was launched in 2010 to compensate clubs for releasing their players.
United have seen 16 players travel to Qatar and still has a healthy contingent competing even though it's now down to the last eight. The club has already pocketed millions and it could be stretchered further still.
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A statement from FIFA read : "As part of its commitment to recognise the contribution that football clubs make to the successful staging of the FIFA World Cup, today FIFA started the application process for its Club Benefit Programme that will see $209million (£171.4million) distributed to clubs across the world. This initiative already saw 416 clubs from 63 member associations benefiting from the same amount following the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
"For the first time, clubs will be able to apply digitally through the FIFA Professional Football Landscape platform with approximately $10,000 (£8,202) to be received for each one of the days the relevant player remains with his national team during the FIFA World Cup 2022 and the official preparation period. The compensation will be paid to all clubs for which the footballer has played in the two years prior to the FIFA World Cup 2022."
Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fred, Casemiro, Antony, Alex Telles, Raphael Varane, Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, Facundo Pellistri and Hannibal Mejbri were all named in their respective countries' squads and competed until at least the end of the group stage.
With so many players in Qatar, United were pocketing £131,232 per day for 19 days from when the World Cup preparation period began on November 14 to the conclusion of the groups. Earning United £2,493,408.
Ronaldo is still included in the list despite his sudden departure six days into the tournament as it's stated that 'compensation will be paid to all clubs for which the footballer has played in the two years prior.' As a result, United should also pocket an extra £311,676 for Daniel James and Edinson Cavani's participation in the tournament which ended at the group stage.
Eriksen, Pellistri and Hannibal have all been eliminated in the groups as well but no other player is yet to go home and United still have 13 players vying to win the World Cup with England, Portugal, Brazil, France, the Netherlands and Argentina all in the quarter-finals.
Six of those 13 are guaranteed to stay in Qatar until Friday, which will earn United £344,484. The remaining seven will stay in the competition until at least Saturday, guaranteeing a further £459,312. Taking United's total earnings in the tournament so far to approximately a hefty £3,644,880.
After that, there will be eight days of the World Cup remaining before the final on December 18. United are guaranteed to have players in the semi-finals and likely to have representatives in the final, too, meaning that figure is going to get even higher.
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