Fifa to reward teams for contributing to Scorchers’ World Cup squad

Malawian women’s teams that will contribute players to the Scorchers’ squad for the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup will be rewarded with funds from the Fifa Women’s World Cup Club Benefits Programme.

The Bureau of the Fifa Council announced on Thursday that clubs, players and participating national associations would benefit from improved financial arrangements for the tournament.

Scorchers have other exceptional players besides the Chawinga sisters

While Fifa is yet to state how much the clubs will get for next year’s tournament, during the 2023 edition, Fifa committed a total of $11.3 million (about K2 billion) towards the initiative.

The world football governing body also set aside $355 million to compensate clubs that released players for the men’s 2026 World Cup and its qualifying matches.

Of the amount, $250 million was allocated to clubs whose players featured in the finals, while $100 million was earmarked for clubs releasing players for qualifying matches.

In its statement, Fifa said: “Fifa Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 stakeholders, including players, member associations and clubs, will benefit from increased financial distributions.

“The decision signals Fifa’s commitment to improving the financial rewards available to women’s football stakeholders, although the exact allocations for clubs and players are yet to be announced.”

Fifa said details of the payments would be discussed at the Fifa Council’s next meeting in December.

Under the 2026 men’s World Cup arrangements, clubs are entitled to compensation of $5 000 per player per day.

National Bank of Malawi Women’s Premiership clubs that contribute players to the Scorchers have welcomed the development, saying it would motivate both players and clubs.

The Scorchers squad for the global tournament is yet to be released, but it will be dominated by players from local teams such as Silver Strikers Ladies, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women, Ascent Academy and Civil Service United Women.

Civil Women’s Football Club administrator Gabriel Chirwa said the prospect of financial rewards would encourage players to work harder to earn national team places.

“This is a big motivation indeed. With this motivation the players will work extra hard. The technical team will have a tough time to select players,” he said.

Bullets acting chief executive officer Albert Chigoga said clubs investing in women’s football deserved to benefit from their efforts.

He said: “Its great news indeed. This encourages clubs to invest in talent identification, development and nurturing. As they say, there are no shortcuts to the top.”

Fifa has also pledged to improve payments to players participating in the tournament.

At the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Fifa introduced guaranteed minimum payments ranging from $30 000 per player for teams eliminated in the group stage to $270 000 for members of the winning team.

Players whose teams reached the round of 16 received $60 000 each, while quarter-finalists were entitled to $90 000.

For Brazil 2027, Fifa has promised higher minimum guaranteed payments, with the new amounts yet to be announced.

The Bureau of the Council said: “Additionally, players participating in the Fifa Women’s World Cup 2027 will enjoy the same service levels as their male counterparts in 2026.”

Chigoga said the prospect of financial rewards would intensify competition for places at club and national team level.

“There will be seriousness among players towards 2027. It’s a big stage so quality is required,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Football Association of Malawi will receive $2.5 million to prepare the Scorchers for the tournament.

Fifa said the funds “will be made available to PMAs [participating member associations] before December 2026”.

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