As a result of their participation in the 2022 World Cup, Asante Kotoko is set to receive a total of $200,757.97 in benefits. The Ghana Premier League team was represented by goalkeeper Ibrahim Danlad in the tournament held in Qatar.
Danlad received a late call-up to the squad after Jojo Wollacott injured his finger, ruling him out of the competition just weeks before it commenced.
With this amount, Kotoko becomes the second-highest earner among Ghanaian clubs, with Hearts of Oak receiving the highest sum of $219,008.70. Additionally, Steadfast FC will receive $109,504.72, while Dreams FC and King Faisal will each be granted $18,250.72. These compensations aim to acknowledge the clubs’ significant role in developing and nurturing players who represented Ghana on the global stage.
However, Ghana’s performance in the tournament was disappointing, as they were eliminated in the group phase with only three points. The Black Stars secured a sole victory against South Korea but suffered defeats against Portugal and Uruguay.
The FIFA Club Benefits Programme is an initiative established to recognize the contributions of football clubs during the World Cup. It rewards clubs financially with proceeds from the tournament, and the distribution is facilitated through member associations to clubs that made their players available for their respective national teams.
This program was first introduced ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The financial rewards are given to clubs where the players were registered during the World Cup qualifiers and throughout the tournament.
For the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the Club Benefits Programme will distribute a total of $209 million to clubs worldwide as a reward for their players’ contributions. This amount is the same as what was distributed following the 2018 World Cup in Russia. In comparison, the benefits allocated for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil amounted to $70 million, an increase from the $40 million allocated for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
