The heartbreak of the CAF Champions League final must now make way for something far bigger: the most lucrative tournament in club football history, writes Dylan Johnson.
A R180 million opportunity is staring Mamelodi Sundowns in the face — and they can’t afford to blink. While the UEFA Champions League may still carry prestige, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is where the money is — and it’s money that could elevate Sundowns to a different level entirely.
MORE: Sundowns look past CAF Champions League upset
Sundowns banked R35.8 million for finishing second in Africa. They earned R20 million more for wrapping up yet another domestic league title. Combine both and it still doesn’t touch the $10 million (roughly R180 million) on offer just for participating in the USA-hosted Club World Cup — with even more up for grabs if they make it out the group.
FIFA’s Club World Cup overhaul means eight groups of four, global opponents, and a prize structure that makes every match a bankable opportunity. A win in the group stage is worth $2 million. Progression to the knockout round secures $7.5 million more. For the winners, $40 million and a potential $125 million in total earnings. Even for Sundowns — a club operating well above South African standards — these figures are transformative.
That kind of cash matters. Even for a club as financially stable as Sundowns, whose domestic dominance has been built on consistency, investment, and planning. But if they want to finally go the distance in Africa again, they must grow — and this is the platform to do it.
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Between 2021 and 2024, Sundowns made two semi-finals and two quarter-finals in the Champions League. That’s consistency without the trophy. This Club World Cup is a reset button backed by financial weight.
Strong performances against Ulsan HD, Dortmund, and Fluminense could not only raise the club’s profile but give them the kind of revenue boost that reshapes their long-term performances in African football.
There are no safety nets in this tournament. Sundowns must approach it with full intent, not to compete, but to capitalise. The financial return is clear — now it’s about delivering the performances to match.
Photo: Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images
