Here's how much League of Ireland clubs will get for the World Cup
The World Cup begins in just over a week, and it’s going to be one of plenty firsts.
It’s the first to be hosted in three countries, the first to have 48 teams and the first World Cup for several countries like Curacao, Uzbekistan and Jordan. It will also be the first World Cup in which current League of Ireland players will take part.
Both Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes of Shamrock Rovers and Joseph Anang of St Patrick’s Athletic will be at this summer’s tournament in North America, representing Cape Verde and Ghana, respectively.
Roberto Lopes of Cape Verde after his side’s qualification. Pic: Cristiano Barbosa/Sportsfile
For Lopes, it’s the culmination of quite a surreal story, which started as a LinkedIn message he ignored and went on to play a key role in his father’s country making their first-ever World Cup, beating African Giants Cameroon on the way.
And for Anang, he grew up in Accra but moved to London to pursue football at West Ham United. After returning to his birthplace to make his debut in 2025, he will now play a part in a Black Stars side looking to replicate the wonders of their 2010 quarter-final campaign in South Africa.
This World Cup has received a lot of criticism for the bloated calendar, crazy logistics and even the transport to stadiums, before even getting into the politics of it, but what it has done is given opportunities for smaller nations to perform on the World’s stage, and also give developing leagues like the League of Ireland a huge financial boost as well.
St Patrick’s Athletic goalkeeper Joseph Anang. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Each club that provides a player for the World Cup receives $11,000 (~€9500) per day, which is part of FIFA’s $355 million (~€301million) fund, which it agreed with the European Club Association last year.
That means that for Shamrock Rovers and St Pat’s, they will receive a minimum of €215,000 each for Lopes and Anang taking part in the tournament, even if they don’t play a minute. This will be increased should either Cape Verde or Ghana make it far in the World Cup.
It’s a hugely positive sign for both sides as well as the league, as it continues to grow in this country and abroad in European Competition and now on the biggest stage.
