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Manchester City’s Club World Cup campaign ended far earlier than expected, though they won’t be leaving the United States empty-handed. The 2023 Champions League winners are heading home with $50 million for just two weeks of participation.
The shock came at the hands of Al-Hilal, the Saudi club backed by the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). In a matchup between two Gulf-owned clubs–with Manchester City owned by Abu Dhabi’s City Football Group–Al-Hilal delivered a disciplined counter-attacking performance to knock out City and book a spot in the quarterfinals. They remain unbeaten in the tournament so far.
The 4-3 victory brings Al-Hilal’s Club World Cup earnings to roughly $35 million so far, a landmark result that reflects their growing credibility on the pitch amid Saudi Arabia’s multibillion-dollar push to become a force in global soccer. In recent years they had made high-profile signings like Neymar ($98.6 million), Kalidou Koulibaly ($19.9 million), and Sergej Milinković-Savić ($40 million), although the Neymar deal ended in disaster after just one goal and seven games.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote, “The NEW ERA OF CLUB FOOTBALL has definitely started” on Instagram. Infantino has closely attached himself to the Saudi project, leading the charge to award the nation the 2034 men’s World Cup with no opposing bids.
FIFA offered enormous appearance fees to ensure participation in the tournament, paying teams like Manchester City and Chelsea $38.19 million each, while clubs from smaller markets, such as Auckland City, will receive just $3.58 million. The European teams were paid more to just show up, while clubs from Asia, Africa, and Oceania were allotted far less.
Manchester City earned approximately $51.7 million in total—including per-match winnings—before their early exit. Al-Hilal, in contrast, received a $9.5 million performance fee and has now brought in around $35 million through performance. All of this is funded by the $1 billion media rights deal FIFA struck with DAZN—backed in part by Saudi investment.
Beyond the money, Al-Hilal’s win over City was far more than a one-off upset.
For a Saudi club to knock out Manchester City, who have finished in the top three of the Premier League for almost a decade, is a sign of how the balance of power in soccer could start to shift.
The upset is a win for FIFA’s broader goal of elevating the global profile of non-European leagues, showcasing the rise of clubs like Al-Hilal. But it also comes at a cost, as losing a world-famous team like Manchester City early may hurt the tournament’s ratings and global draw.
Al-Hilal will face Brazil’s Fluminense in Orlando on Friday in the quarterfinals.
