A golden payday is on the horizon for Ghana’s domestic clubs, thanks to a landmark change in FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme (CBP). For the first time ever, FIFA will compensate teams not just for players who feature at the World Cup itself, but also for those released during the qualifiers.

The global football body has earmarked a record USD 355 million for the 2026 World Cup cycle—up from the USD 209 million shared at Qatar 2022. This means Ghana Premier League sides such as Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko, Medeama SC, Dreams FC, Nations FC and others stand to gain financially whenever their stars join the Black Stars in the qualification campaign.

Take Hearts goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, for instance. Even if he doesn’t make the final tournament squad, his club will still earn a slice of the payout for his time with the national team.

FIFA’s expanded model is being hailed as a fairer redistribution of wealth, rewarding the local clubs that nurture the talent powering international football. For Ghanaian sides, the windfall could fund stadium upgrades, bolster player welfare, and drive youth development—transforming the grassroots game while the Black Stars chase World Cup glory.