2026 World Cup: Sounders will receive money for Cristian Roldan's participation

The Sounders will see another financial return for having players participate in a FIFA international tournament.

This month, soccer's governing body released details for its Club Benefits Program - a fund of $355 million (USD) that will be allocated to teams who have players participate in the men's World Cup. The kickback is in agreement with the European Club Association and was initially established in 2010.

FIFA will retain $5 million for administrative purposes, it said in its news release. But the organization boasted that in a first, this year's money includes a portion for players released for 2026 World Cup qualifiers. All totals will be distributed on a per-player, per-match basis.

There were 905 World Cup qualifying matches. The pot for those is $100 million and FIFA estimating clubs will receive $2,360 per player, per match.

The World Cup is the largest quadrennial tournament in FIFA's history with 48 teams and 104 total matches being played across North America. The spectacle kicked off Thursday, and each country is guaranteed to play three matches in the group stage with 32 advancing to the knockout rounds.

A pool of $250 million will be distributed among the clubs whose players are participating. Payments are estimated at $5,000 per-player, per-day, but FIFA will release the final figures after the World Cup final July 19.

"Thanks to the inclusion of all qualifying matches for the first time, more clubs than ever before will receive a share of the financial benefits generated by the FIFA World Cup, recognizing their essential contribution to the success of international football," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in the news release.

U.S. international Cristian Roldan is the lone player from the Sounders' roster participating in the tournament. The USMNT defeated Paraguay 4-1 in their group stage opener Friday.

Despite Roldan not playing in the match, he's earned the Sounders an estimated $15,000 and counting.

The Sounders also released defender Nouhou (Cameroon), former winger Georgi Minoungou (Burkina Faso), forwards Osaze De Rosario (Guyana) and Danny Musovski (Northern Macedonia) and former striker Raúl Ruidíaz (Peru) for World Cup qualifiers since 2023. The players combined to play 17 matches for an approximate $40,120 trickling to the club.

Money is money, but the estimated amounts are paltry when compared to what European clubs could accumulate. FIFA released figures from the 2022 World Cup played in Qatar, and English side Manchester City was paid $4.6 million.

The Sounders had a club-record four players participate in Qatar in Nouhou, Roldan, defender Xavier Arreaga (Ecuador) and forward Jordan Morris (USMNT). Only the USMNT advanced from the group stage, losing in the Round of 16.

The Sounders were paid a total of $826,757. CONCACAF was represented by 53 clubs overall, receiving a combined $15,451,063 million - roughly 8% of the pot.

Unlike the Club World Cup - which debuted a new format last year, was played across the U.S. and had an unprecedented $1 billion prize pool - FIFA isn't stipulating players receive any of the World Cup money.

Inter Miami, Los Angeles FC and the Sounders participated in the Club World Cup. Miami lost in the Round of 16, bringing in $21.05 million.

Neither LAFC nor Seattle advanced from the group stage, but the Black and Gold drew in one match for a total windfall of $10.55 million. The Sounders lost their three matches, receiving the guaranteed $9.55 million as a CONCACAF team.

Sounders players led a protest due to a CBA-mandated bonus cap of $1 million to be shared among the locker room. A contentious negotiation resulted in an increase far less than the 60-40 split the MLS Players Association sought.

While the Club World Cup figures were more than the Sounders front office has made for marquee sponsorship deals in the past, a source with knowledge of the situation said it isn't making anyone rich. The funds helped retain staff and maintain amenities - FIFA stipulating owners couldn't pocket the Club World Cup money.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published June 14, 2026 at 6:38 AM.