Ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, the world football governing body has agreed to pay compensation to clubs for releasing their players to represent their national teams at the global soccer showpiece.

The European Club Association has revealed on its official website that the total sum of $209m will be shared among clubs through the ‘FIFA Club Benefits Programme’ for the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia, and the amount is three times higher than what was paid for players’ participation in Brazil 2014.

Starting from June 1, 2018, when the players included in the squad list must report to the training camp, FIFA will pay $8,530 per player per day (equivalent of N3,070,800.00) until they are knocked out of the competition.

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Taking Nigerian two Premier league stars, Victor Moses and Alex Iwobi, for instance, Chelsea and Arsenal are guaranteed at least $221,780 each (N79.8 million) for releasing the two players to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for Group D matches.

The total payment for the Nigerian national team for the group stage is $5,100,940 (approximately N1.8 billion).

The agreed provisions set aside were $40m for the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa and $70m for the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil.

It also can be revealed that Premier League champions Chelsea will be compensated by FIFA to the tune of $36,963.34 (or N13.4 million) for their former player, John Obi Mikel in the group stage.

The total amount per player is distributed to all the clubs with which the player was registered in the last two years prior to the start of the 2018 World Cup.

One-third of the total amount is paid to the club the player represented from June 1- July 31, 2018.