Ugandan football clubs, including SC Villa, Vipers SC, and KCCA FC among others, are poised to benefit from FIFA’s enhanced Club Benefits Programme (CBP) for the 2026 World Cup.
The programme, established through a renewed memorandum of understanding between FIFA and the European Club Association (ECA), will distribute a record $355 million to clubs worldwide that release players for the World Cup qualifiers and final tournament.
– Increased Solidarity Fund: The CBP distribution principles have been adjusted to allow every club whose players directly feature in the World Cup qualifiers or final tournament to receive a share of the solidarity fund.
– Direct Compensation: Clubs will be directly compensated for releasing players for World Cup qualifiers, regardless of whether the player participates in the final tournament.
– Fairer Redistribution: The programme aims to provide a fairer and more inclusive redistribution of resources across global club football.
The programme is expected to provide significant financial benefits to Ugandan clubs, enabling them to invest in infrastructure, player development, and club operations.
This could help bridge the gap between African clubs and their European counterparts in terms of resources and competitiveness .
FIFA and ECA’s Commitment
FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the organization’s commitment to recognizing the contributions of clubs and players worldwide.
Further details on the CBP distribution model, including the registration process for clubs, will be announced in due course.
This development is expected to have a positive impact on Ugandan football, enabling local clubs to benefit from the global football phenomenon.
