UMVA has learned that the England football team, gearing up for a glorious run in North America, has a surprisingly modest match fee structure.
The players earn around £2,000 per game for the Three Lions, a figure that pales in comparison to their Premier League salaries. For instance, the average Premier League salary is around £4m a year, while top England players like Declan Rice and Harry Kane reportedly earn around £12m and £21m annually.
However, in a heartwarming display of generosity, the England players have donated their match fees to the England Football Foundation since 2007. This initiative has raised over £15m for charity, with the funds distributed to various causes.
In addition to their match fees, player incomes can be supplemented by bonuses for achieving specific tournament milestones or winning the competition outright. The England players may also receive a share of the prize money awarded to the Three Lions for participating in the tournament.
FIFA pays the prize money directly to the football association of each participating country, but typically, players receive a percentage of the funds. England is guaranteed at least £6.7m just for participating in the World Cup, while winning the tournament would net the FA a staggering £37.2m.
The World Cup prize money structure is as follows: Group stage - £6.7m, Round of 32 - £8.2m, Round of 16 - £11.2m, Quarter-finals - £14m, Fourth place - £20m, Third place - £21.6m, Runners-up - £24.6m, and Winners - £37.2m.
