Inter Miami's Club World Cup Journey Could Net Massive Financial Windfall
Inter Miami has already secured substantial financial benefits from participating in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, even before entering the knockout rounds.
A 2–2 draw with Palmeiras, along with an early draw against Al Ahly and a memorable victory over Porto, earned them five points across three matches, securing second place in Group A for Lionel Messi's squad.
With Messi orchestrating play, despite now turning 38, Miami enters their round of 16 clash against newly crowned European champions Paris Saint-Germain at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on June 29 with nothing to lose.
Many don't anticipate Miami defeating PSG, Messi's former team, essentially making this a no-pressure opportunity.
From a financial standpoint, they've already struck gold, regardless of future outcomes.
FIFA revealed in March a total prize pool of $1 billion, which suddenly captured the attention of even Europe's richest clubs after initial skepticism.
Questions arose about why Miami, rather than reigning MLS Cup winners LA Galaxy, received the 'host' designation. However, mere participation guaranteed $9.55 million.
The Al Ahly match earned $1 million, Porto added another $2 million, and Palmeiras contributed an additional $1 million. Following the group phase, total earnings reached $13.55 million, plus $7.5 million for advancing to the round of 16. The current total stands at $21.05 million.
What's now apparent is how substantial this sum is for a club like Miami, accustomed to MLS revenue streams and prize structures. MLS playoff rewards pale in comparison. In 2024, Miami earned nothing from the postseason after Atlanta United eliminated them in the first round, with Atlanta receiving just $20,000 for that two-leg triumph.
This comparison illustrates the vast difference in scale.
Defeating PSG next, though an enormous task, would yield an additional $13.125 million for reaching the quarterfinals. Prize money continues to escalate dramatically with each subsequent round.
Auckland City represents an even more striking example of the massive advantages for non-European teams. Oceania's only representative operates as a semi-professional outfit, with players and staff taking leave from regular employment to participate in the Club World Cup.
However, the clear motivation is their $3.58 million appearance fee, plus the chance to compete alongside teams like Bayern Munich and Benfica, considering Auckland reported NZD 1.1 million ($660,000) in revenue for their most recent financial year.