Despite not playing in the UEFA Champions League this season and last season, Chelsea will be making an appearance at the new FIFA Club World Cup.
Chelsea earned qualification to the 32-team tournament by winning the Champions League in 2021, and they’ve been drawn in Group D with Flamengo, Espérance Sportive de Tunis and Club León.
The London club will be joined by Manchester City who will face Juventus in Group G and Real Madrid have been drawn against Al-Hilal in Group H.
Pep Guardiola’s City secured themselves an invitation to the United States by winning the Champions League in 2023.
The Club World Cup now exists separately from previous editions, that tournament has now been renamed to the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
By securing qualification to FIFA’s new club competition, Chelsea are expected to rake in millions for simply participating.
According to the MailOnline, the Blues could pocket up to £60m after FIFA signed a £780m ($1bn) television deal with DAZN for the rights to show the Club World Cup.
The report states that no final decision as has been made, but Chelsea have been told to expect between £50m and £60m. This will serve as a major development for Chelsea whose spending has been heavily scrutinised since a consortium of investors – led by Todd Boehly – and private equity group, called Clearlake Capital, bought the club in May 2022.
In two and a half years, Chelsea have forked out just over £1bn on signings while generating nearly £500m in player sales. In fact, the Blues’ annual report and financial statements for the year ending June 2023 revealed the club secured £512million in revenue during the 2022/23 campaign – which was six per cent more than the 2021/22 season.
Chelsea will surely profit from this tournament as the Blues continue their quest towards achieving huge success under the new owners.
