Newcastle United set for financial boost after FIFA World Cup announcement

Newcastle United are set to benefit financially when a number of Magpies players participate in this year’s World Cup Finals.

FIFA have confirmed they have made £189m available to distribute to clubs around the world as their players take part in the finals in Qatar.  The controversial tournament will get underway next month and an announcement on Tuesday has revealed how clubs will receive payments for releasing their players for international duty.

Clubs will received approximately £9,000 for each day an individual player remains with their country, starting from the first day of their preparations and ending with the day they are knocked out of the tournament.  That means any player helping his country to the final will earn his club a minimum of £250,000, based on a 28-day tournament.

The payments follow a similar route followed in 2018 when the World Cup held in Russia saw 416 clubs from 63 countries benefit financially from their players’ participation in the tournament.

The Magpies could lose several of their players when the Premier League takes a break as the focus of the World heads towards events in the Gulf State.  Eddie Howe’s men will see their season season paused following the home game with Chelsea on Saturday 12th November and they will not return to action until a Boxing Day clash at Leicester City.

During the period of inaction, United will expect to lose England duo Nick Pope and Kieran Trippier, with striker Callum Wilson only considered to have an outside chance of forcing his way into the Three Lions squad.  The same will be said of Joelinton, with his chances of joining Bruno Guimaraes in the Brazil squad reducing as the tournament draws near.  Bruno will surely face a meeting with Magpies team-mate Fabian Schar with the defender seen as a key part of the Switzerland setup.

The decision to hold the tournament during the winter and enforce a break on league fixtures around the world has led to further conversations surrounding player welfare and the already hectic calendar.

Speaking last year, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: “The Premier League is committed to preventing any radical changes to the post-2024 Fifa International Match calendar that would adversely affect player welfare and threaten the competitiveness, calendar, structures and traditions of domestic football.

“We’re open to reforms and new ideas, but they must enhance the complementary balance between domestic and international football in order to improve the game at all levels.  We will continue to work with supporter groups, players, domestic and international stakeholders to find solutions that are in the best interests of football’s long-term future.”