Man City primed to cash in from £750m Qatar-funded deal, Ferran Sorriano has said it's 'very much needed'

Manchester City came up short in their pursuit of Club World Cup glory, but the tournament has certainly provided them with a nice financial boost.

The Citizens, who reached the last 16 of the competition, have left the United States having earned around £37.8million.

That includes almost £1.5million per win and a participation fee, believed to be around £28million, which FIFA bases on “sporting and commercial criteria”.

Prior to the tournament, Manchester City chief executive Ferran Sorriano told The Athletic a change to the newly-expanded competition was “very much needed”.

The Club World Cup is set to return in 2029, and financial expert Adam Williams has spoken about how City will fancy their chances of another lucrative summer.

Photo by Elsa – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Manchester City in line for share of lucrative prize pot if they reach 2029 Club World Cup

Williams exclusively spoke to Manchester City News about how FIFA have big plans for the next edition of the tournament.

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Qatar has expressed an interest in hosting the 2029 edition, according to The Guardian.

Williams believes a “similarly lucrative arrangement for the clubs who qualify” could be on the cards if FIFA and Qatar can strike a deal.

And City will certainly fancy their chances of qualifying, as they will be eager to return to the top table of European football.

“The narrative around the finances involved in the Club World Cup has been that it is basically being artificially financially underwritten by Saudi sovereign wealth,” Williams told MCN.

“PIF have indirectly funded the TV deal with DAZN, which is where the £750million in prize money has come from.

“Because 2025 is the maiden edition of the revamped tournament, FIFA hope that it will have created a significant enough buzz that there will be more real commercial value for a broadcast partner in 2029.

“Based on the evidence we’ve seen so far, I don’t see it.

“However, if they can get another cosy deal with the Qataris this time, then it could be a similarly lucrative arrangement for the clubs who qualify.

“City will fancy their chances of being in the tournament of course, especially if they increase it to 48 teams and lift the cap of two teams per UEFA member nation, which there is some discussion about.

“There’s a lot of hearsay involved here, of course. But FIFA have big plans for this tournament.

“If it’s consistently going to be delivering at least £50million in revenue for clubs like City on a quadrennial basis, that’s going to distort competition in the Premier League and beyond.

“But given the resources at their disposal and the fact that in a 48-team tournament City are likely to qualify, they won’t be concerned about the competitive balance aspect.”

READ MORE: How much the sale of Kyle Walker to Burnley could earn Manchester City in transfer fees and save them in wages

How Manchester City can qualify for the 2029 Club World Cup

As things stand, 32 teams will be present at the 2029 Club World Cup, although this could potentially change over the coming years.

There will again be 12 teams from Europe, with results between 2025 and 2028 key to qualification for the competition.

Paris Saint-Germain are in thanks to their Champions League triumph this summer, and the next three winners of Europe’s top club competition will also secure a spot.

The remaining eight continental places will be determined by a club ranking of the four-year period, as was the case this time around.

Man City are currently outside the top 20 of the UEFA four-year ranking due to their disappointing Champions League campaign last season.

However, the Citizens will be confident of quickly returning to the top of European football after their squad revamp over the course of the year.

Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli, Egyptian outfit Pyramids and Mexico’s Cruz Azul have all qualified for the 2029 Club World Cup following victories in their respective Champions League competitions this year.

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