Birmingham City are set to receive a financial boost from FIFA's Club Benefits Programme after Paik Seung-ho was selected for South Korea's World Cup squad. The midfielder is the only current Blues player heading to this summer's tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
World Cup Compensation Details
FIFA has allocated $355 million (£263 million) to compensate clubs whose players participate in the 2026 World Cup. Clubs earn a daily fee for each day a player is away on international duty, from release until elimination. In 2022, the daily rate was $10,950 (£8,100).
Paik's Potential Earnings
Paik, 29, is playing in his second World Cup after appearing in Qatar 2022. South Korea are in Group A with hosts Mexico, South Africa, and Czechia. If they reach the final on July 19, Paik could earn Blues up to $525,600 (£390,000) based on the previous rate.
The 48-team tournament runs from June 11 to July 19. FIFA also expanded the programme to include payments for World Cup qualifiers, meaning Blues benefited from releasing Bright Osayi-Samuel, Demarai Gray, Lewis Koumas, and Lyndon Dykes for qualifiers last season.
