Who Made the Most Money from the Club World Cup?

For all the debates and doubts about the new Club World Cup format, there’s one thing no one can argue with, the money was serious. 

FIFA dangled a massive $1 billion prize pot in front of the 32 participating teams, and now that the tournament is over, we can see exactly who laughed all the way to the bank.

Let’s break it down, who made the most, who made it count, and why even the so-called “small” clubs are calling this tournament their financial jackpot.

Chelsea: The Kings of Cash

Chelsea didn’t just win the Club World Cup, they hit the financial jackpot. Their run through the tournament earned them around £84 million, making them the single biggest winners. 

That’s enough to cover nearly half of their entire summer transfer splurge, which has already hit £198 million, including signings like Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.

This kind of payday doesn’t just boost the trophy cabinet, it directly fuels new deals, 

covers old ones, and gives the club breathing room under UEFA’s strict spending rules.

PSG: Second Place, Still Stacked

Paris Saint-Germain didn’t leave with the trophy, but they left with something close £78.4 million. 

That’s the reward for reaching the final, and like Chelsea, it gives them a strong hand in the transfer market. In tournaments like this, second place doesn’t mean second-rate at least not financially.

Real Madrid: Another Strong Payoff

Real Madrid exited earlier than many expected, but still walked away with £67 million. For a club whose annual revenue is a whopping £901 million, that’s just about 4% of their yearly earnings, but it’s still enough to make a difference.

In fact, they used some of that to cover the £8.4 million they reportedly paid Liverpool to fast-track Trent Alexander-Arnold’s arrival by a month. For Madrid, that transfer cost was repaid after just three matches in the tournament.

Borussia Dortmund

Dortmund’s Club World Cup run paid real dividends. Their quarterfinal finish brought in £38 million, which helped them cover over 65% of their £57.9 million summer transfer business. That includes the £27 million paid to Sunderland for Jobe Bellingham, a fee now completely recouped through this single tournament.

Manchester City

Despite their early exit in the last 16, Manchester City didn’t exactly walk away empty-handed. Their participation still earned them around £38 million, which covers more than the cost of bringing in Rayan Aït-Nouri from Wolves for £31 million.

Even for the best-funded club in Europe, free money is still good money.

Auckland City

Then there’s Auckland City, a name that might not turn heads in Europe, but in Oceania, they’ve just become giants.

The part-time New Zealand side earned £3.3 million from the tournament which doesn’t sound like much until you compare it to their entire 2024 revenue: £488,000. That’s right, their Club World Cup earnings were over seven times their usual yearly income.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire warned this kind of windfall could create a serious imbalance in the New Zealand league, where no other club comes close to Auckland City’s financial position. It’s good news for them, but a possible headache for their domestic competition.

What about the Others?

Teams that didn’t make it past the group stage like Pachuca and Seattle Sounders still received participation fees. For some, that meant walking away with about £9.5 million despite losing all their matches. 

That’s more than enough to fund smaller clubs for an entire year or two. Even group-stage wins mattered. Each victory added £1.5 million, while a draw earned teams around £730,000.

Is this cash overload or player burnout?

While clubs are grinning at the financial numbers, not everyone is thrilled. Critics argue that the increased fixtures just to chase money could push players too far.

“This is great for accountants,” said finance expert Kieran Maguire. “But fans and players? Not so much.”

Player welfare is becoming a bigger issue, especially with global tournaments popping up every other summer. 

And the Club World Cup, with its billion-dollar budget, might just be the tipping point in the tug-of-war between profit and player protection.

In the end, who won the most?

If we’re talking pure cash, Chelsea topped the list with £84 million. But it’s not just about the numbers, it’s about what that money means.

For big clubs, it’s a boost to their already massive transfer plans. For small clubs like Auckland City, it’s transformational. And for FIFA? It’s proof that when you put a billion dollars on the table, the whole football world will show up even if it comes at a cost.

So yes, Chelsea made the most money. But Auckland City? They might just be the real winners.