Ulsan HD “Satisfied” With Club World Cup Prize Money

The FIFA 2025 Club World Cup has a $1 billion prize pot, and South Korea’s Ulsan HD will be looking to grab a slice of that sweet money pie, writes K League United contributor Steve Price.

The K League’s only participants at the Club World Cup will jet off to the United States this summer for games against Brazil’s Fluminense, South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, and German giants Borussia Dortmund.

But just how much prize money could Ulsan HD take home? The prize pot is split into two pillars: participation and progress.

Just for taking part, each team gets paid depending on their size and confederation, with Real Madrid likely to get $38.19 million just for taking part. Ulsan, as representatives from Asia, will get $9.55 million for playing in the Club World Cup.

For each group stage win, clubs get $2 million, and for each draw, $1 million. Progression to the knockout rounds will give clubs an extra $7.7 million, with the prizes increasing for each subsequent round.

If Ulsan win the tournament, they would be looking at just under $100 million in prize money. A more realistic goal, and one set by the club themselves, is reaching the last 16, which would net Ulsan around $20 million.

Ulsan’s club president Kim Kwang-kug, speaking exclusively to RG, said “I’m satisfied with the prize money,” and that “the differences between each continent is reasonable.”

He added that “Winning a game in the group stage is also meaningful whether or not we make it to the round of 16 and further.”

Meanwhile, Ulsan head coach Kim Pan-gon told FIFA, “I believe progressing to the final 16 is important.” Kim said, “If we focus well on our strengths, in areas like pace and technique, I think we may do well in our matches.”

Ulsan HD earned a place in the 2025 Club World Cup as the best-ranked team in Asia’s four-year ranking, having won the AFC Asian Champions League in 2020.