FIFA Club World Cup: prize money, sponsors, attendance and more
The FIFA Club World Cup is the international club competition where the year’s continental champions face off. We take a look at a few of the business aspects of the FIFA Club World Cup, from location to prize money and from attendance figures to sponsors.
UAE host of the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup
The 15th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup takes place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 12 to 22 December. The Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain’s Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium will host seven teams across eight matches with the final taking place in Abu Dhabi. The UAE is not new to hosting the FIFA Club World Cup, as they also organised the 2009, 2010 and 2017 editions.
The club competition is a great way to bring the world’s game to new (smaller) football markets. Apart from the first edition, which was held in Brazil in 2000 – prior to a four-year hiatus – the event has taken place in developing football nations Japan (eight times), United Arab Emirates (three times) and Morocco (twice).
For the teams participating, especially the European team, it is a fantastic opportunity to engage with new, international fans. The timing of the tournament, in the middle of the European season, might not be ideal. But this year’s European representative Real Madrid can only benefit marketing wise from playing at least two matches in the Middle East.
FIFA Club World Cup prize money
The prize money for this year’s FIFA Club World Cup has not officially been revealed. However, past editions are probably a good indication of the amounts that will be awarded. In the last few editions the winner received $5 million, the runner-up $4 million, third place $2.5 million and fourth place $2 million.
Real Madrid and River Plate, both entering this year’s competition at the semi-final stage, will thus be assured of at least $2 million (that is if the prize money of previous years is any indication for this edition).
Fifth, sixth and seventh place got respectively $1.5 million, $1 million and $0.5 million.
Attendance figures FIFA Club World Cup Final
Source: FIFA.com | 2001-2004 no tournament
A record attendance figure was set at the very first FIFA Club World Cup edition in Brazil when both a group stage match and the final had an attendance of 73,000. Between 2001 and 2004 there was no tournament and in 2005 FIFA introduced a new format.
The 2016 edition in Japan had the second highest attendance. In the final in Yokohama 68,742 people (95% of 72,327 capacity) saw Real Madrid beat Japanese side Kashima Antlers.
Last year’s final between Real Madrid and Gremio was contested in front of 41,094 people in Abu Dhabi.
Sponsors FIFA Club World Cup
Just before the start of the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup FIFA unveiled that Alibaba would be the event’s Presenting Partner until 2022. This edition ‘Alibaba Cloud’ is visible around the tournament brand and thus gets a lot of exposure in and around the stadiums, through global broadcasts and online.
In addition to Alibaba and six of FIFA’s seven main partners (Adidas, Coca Cola, Wanda, Gazprom, Qatar Airways and Visa), the FIFA Club World Cup has five event specific sponsors. These five include FIFA.com and FIFA living football. The other three sponsors are national sponsors and companies:
- Abu Dhabi Sports Counsil: organisation advocating sports and youth activities in Abu Dhabi
- Etisalat: a telecommunications company
- Mubadala: an investment company
Sponsors 2018 FIFA Club World Cup teams
| Club | Kit sponsor | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Al Ain FC (UAE) | Nike | FAB |
| CD Guadalajara (MEX) | Puma | – |
| Espérance S. de Tunis (TUN) | Umbro | Délice & Danone |
| Kashima Antlers (JAP) | Nike | Lixil |
| Real Madrid CF (ESP) | Adidas | Emirates |
| Team Wellington FC (NZL) | – | Stonewood Homes |
| River Plate (ARG) | Adidas | – |
FIFA Club World Cup Experience
Apart from the on field spectacle the organisation of the 2018 edition has created a FIFA Club World Cup Experience where fans’ skills are tested in four core football challenges. How are fans’ saving and diving abilities, their vertical jump and heading abilities, their passing, ball control and shooting abilities? An ‘Ultimate Hero’ will eventually be chosen based on age and gender, while an interactive scoring system ranks friends and family against one another.
To bring the fan zone to fans all across the UAE the organisation will tour to over 50 locations, like malls, schools, football organisations and events, in over 200 days.
You can find the FIFA Club World Cup’s latest news and match schedule on the official FIFA website. For other sports events to attend you can have a look at our sports events calendar.
