Leeds United had a very successful season on their return to the top flight. They exceeded all expectations as they managed to end up avoiding relegation.
Daniel Farke also guided his team to their first FA Cup semi-final at Wembley in over 35 years.
A large part of the club’s success was down to the amazing performances of the players. A lot of them kicked into the second gear when Farke changed the setup late last year.
And these players did not go unnoticed; Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Anton Stach earned long-awaited recalls to their national teams because of how well they played this past season.
Unfortunately, both narrowly missed the cut to make their country’s final World Cup squad.
Leeds United to receive major boost from £263m share
Four players will make the trip to the USA with their respective nations after making the final squad. Ao Tanaka, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Brenden Aaronson and Noah Okafor will fly Leeds United’s flag in the tournament.
Them being called up to such a competition shows how well they have played at club level this season.
This also means that the Whites are set for a healthy windfall as a result. FIFA’s ‘Club Benefits Programme’ was set up to distribute money to clubs for releasing their players for the World Cup.
Since 2023, this was adjusted to included World Cup qualifiers and the play-off tournament.
This year will see a total of £263.6 million distributed across the benefits program, and Leeds will certainly earn their share.
The World Cup tournament itself has a daily rate that will be shared for each day a player is with his team at the tournament. 2022’s World Cup saw around £8,131 shared daily.
This year’s daily rate is yet to be confirmed, but using 2022’s rate, Leeds United could make up to £252,061 for Ao Tanaka’s stay in the competition.
| Player | Country |
|---|---|
| Brenden Aaronson | USA |
| Noah Okafor | Switzerland |
| Ao Tanaka | Japan |
| Gabriel Gudmundsson | Sweden |
READ MORE: Leeds United eye 23-year-old ‘giant’ after Daniel Farke demands change
Whites could do with revenue boost
It is no secret that Leeds United are walking a tight rope financially going into next season. They have been flirting with PSR regulations over the last year.
The 49ers have pumped a lot of money into the club, and in the short-term, the team will have to be very strategic with how they spend their money.
And with the new Squad Cost Ratio rules set for this year, the club will have to be even more methodical.
Leeds chief Paraag Marathe already stressed on the importance of buying and selling in his statement to the fans at the end of the season.
So the club will gladly welcome any income from the World Cup benefits package.
