Kaizer Chiefs are in line to receive more than R3.2 million from FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme after several of their players were involved in Bafana Bafana’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification campaign.
The payout comes despite Amakhosi failing to have a single player feature on the pitch during the World Cup finals, with defender Bradley Cross remaining an unused substitute throughout South Africa’s campaign.
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Cross accounts for the biggest payout
Kaizer Chiefs stand to receive approximately $170 000 (R2.8 million) after Cross was selected in Bafana Bafana’s 26-man World Cup finals squad.
Although the left-back did not make an appearance during the tournament, compensates clubs for releasing players selected for the finals.
The Naturena-based club will also receive approximately R78 000 for Cross’s inclusion in two World Cup qualifying match-day squads against Benin and Rwanda.
That takes the total amount generated by Cross alone to around R2.875 million.
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Four more Kaizer Chiefs players contribute
Kaizer Chiefs are also set to benefit from four other players who were named in Bafana Bafana match-day squads during the qualifying campaign.
They are:
- Mduduzi Shabalala
- Sibongiseni Mthethwa
- Given Msimango
- Thabiso Monyane
Shabalala featured in four qualifying match-day squads, while Mthethwa and Msimango were selected twice each. Monyane was included for one qualifier.
Under FIFA’s guidelines, clubs receive approximately R39 000 for every qualifying match in which one of their registered players is named in the official match-day squad.
Those appearances add a further R351 000 to Kaizer Chiefs’ earnings.
Total payout tops R3 million
Combined, the figures bring Kaizer Chiefs’ expected gross payment from FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme to approximately R3.226 million.
The funds are expected to be paid through each club’s member association before the end of 2026, subject to the completion of FIFA’s online registration and validation process, as well as any applicable taxes.
A bittersweet World Cup
While the financial boost will be welcomed at Naturena, the tournament itself ended in disappointment from a Kaizer Chiefs perspective.
South Africa’s journey came to an end in the Round of 32, and for the first time in the nation’s World Cup history, no Kaizer Chiefs player registered any playing minutes during the tournament.
In each of Bafana Bafana’s previous three World Cup appearances in 1998, 2002 and 2010, the Glamour Boys had at least one player feature on the field.