The Fifa World Cup 2014 is now history to many soccer fans just over a month after the final in Brazil. This event is the world’s most decorated football tournament in the world because of prestige and financial incentives involved. Perhaps, this is why national teams and FIFA certified football federations strive to qualify for the world cup events. Playing in the World Cup is every soccer player’s dream. The pride to wear national team colors, especially in front of massive crowds of nationals, is inspirational and many soccer players take pride from it. Countries from developing world should always strive to qualify for major events like the world cup as part of economic boast. Qualification to the World Cup is usually achieved on merit; it’s very competitive and difficult. And once you qualify there are a lot of financial incentives involved both for players and federations. Football professionals like to win trophies as a measure for their career achievements. Many players, especially those who ply their trade at the top level, target success in major trophies like the Champions League and the World cup. And we have to admit money is a strong incentive. For World Cup, players receive bonuses for every stage of the event. Players are even rewarded financially to make the 23-man squad submitted to FIFA and can win lots of money once the team have succeeded in the event. For example, Germany received $35 million for winning the World Cup 2014. And German players received hefty sums of money in bonuses. The World Cup is a business transaction like any other business where you have to count for financial losses and gains. Two months ago, FIFA invested nearly $4.5 billion in the tournament for bonuses and payments to participating national football federations. This money is revenue collected from broadcasters, sponsors, hospitality and licensing deals; FIFA distributes just over $400 million to the 32 national football federations taking part in the tournament. Every participating federation or national team is offered $8 million dollars. Teams knocked out in the round of 16 get $9 million, those that reach quarterfinalists get $14 million, while semi-finalists are paid $ 16 million. Finalists Argentina received $25 million, while winners Germany got $ 35 million – $5 million more than what Spain received when they won the 2010 World Cup title. Additionally, FIFA paid $1.5 million in advance to each of the 32 federations to prepare for the event – an increase of $500,000 from the 2010 tournament. This money helps teams pay for training camps and meet other needs before the commencement of the World Cup. The financial incentive involved help governments and federations improve teams or solve outstanding problems before the world cup. During the just concluded World Cup in Brazil, squabbled resulting from over unpaid bonuses exposed the financial problems of some African football federations. Cameroon had to get a loan to settle outstanding debts for their players. The Cameroonian squad arrived a day late after refusing to board a plane, forcing their federation to take a loan to play the striking players. Ghanaian government flew in $3 million in cash after Brazil’s government waived laws on moving currency to avert a strike by their players, who had reportedly been promised between $75,000 and $100,000. And Nigerian players canceled a training session before the round of 16 defeat to France to ensure their bonus payments. They had been promised $10,000 each for every group game won, and could have earned $102,500 if they had won the title.
