Australia will pocket A$12.5M ($9.5M) "just for participating" in the 2018 World Cup, and Football Federation Australia is aiming to further maximize "the impact of being at the showpiece tournament," according to Carly Adno of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. Each of the 32 qualifying countries will receive A$10.5M ($8M), plus an additional A$2M ($1.5M) in "allowances to cover preparation costs." Should the Socceroos make it out of their group to the round of 16, they would receive close to A$16M ($12.1M), and the prizemoney "would increase substantially the further they progressed." The World Cup winner receives close to A$50M ($37.9M), and the runner-up A$35.5M ($26.9M). All the prizemoney will be paid by FIFA after the World Cup "and FFA bosses allocate how it is to be filtered through." The players "have previously received one-third of that prizemoney." But it is "not just the World Cup that is vital financially for FFA," it is the "commercial opportunities in the lead-up." FFA has already earmarked the March and May int'l windows next year to host friendly matches as the Socceroos prepare to depart for Russia. The marketplace "should be competitive," particularly with the "addition of the new Optus Stadium in Perth." It will need to justify the A$1.45B ($1.1B) price tag by hosting big events, "so a Socceroos match there is very much on the cards" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 11/29).
COST OF DEFEAT: ESPN.com's Ben Gladwell reported Italian football will lose €2.6M ($3M) in funding after the national team failed to reach a World Cup "for the first time in 60 years." All Olympic sports receive funding from the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), "with the funds based on criteria including results and success." Italy's defeat to Sweden in a qualification playoff means the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) "will be given a smaller slice of the cake, with other sports earning greater shares" (ESPN.com, 11/29).
