It’s not every day that African football clubs get a payday like this.

The four teams representing Africa at the revamped FIFA Club World Cup in the United States this June and July are about to earn some serious money—even before kicking a ball.

Whether they win or lose, Al Ahly (Egypt), Esperance (Tunisia), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), and Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) are each walking away with $9.55 million (about R169 million) just for showing up.

That’s more than most clubs on the continent make in an entire decade.

To put that into perspective, Mamelodi Sundowns would have to win the South African Premier League nine times to match that payout.

Big Money on the Line for Wins and Progress

On top of that guaranteed appearance fee, there’s even more cash to fight for.

A group-stage win will land a team an extra $2 million, a draw nets $1 million, and making it out of the group and into the knockout rounds comes with a hefty $7.5 million bonus.

Compare that to the CAF Champions League, where winners receive $4 million after playing up to 16 matches.

At this Club World Cup, no team will play more than seven matches in total—so the money-to-game ratio is off the charts.

Let’s take a look at how the four African giants are shaping up for their trip to the U.S.

Al Ahly Take Aim at Inter Miami and Messi

Egypt’s football powerhouse Al Ahly are set for a blockbuster opener against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami on June 14.

New coach Jose Riveiro—who left South Africa’s Orlando Pirates just last month—will be making his competitive debut with the club in that high-profile clash.

Riveiro is already talking tactics: “The best way to deal with Messi is to cut off his supply,” he said, though he admitted they’ve got a plan for when the superstar does get the ball.

Ahly have also been busy in the transfer market, snapping up some big names including Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan from Trabzonspor and Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed from rivals Zamalek.

Esperance Hope to Rewrite Their Club World Cup History

Tunisia’s Esperance, also known as the “Blood and Gold”, come into the tournament under new leadership after a rocky season.

Maher Kanzari, a former club star, stepped in after Romanian coach Laurențiu Reghecampf was let go mid-season.

Despite an early exit from the CAF Champions League quarter-finals, Kanzari did bring home a domestic league and cup double.

Their key player? Algerian striker Youcef Belaili, who scored seven goals in the Champions League, making him the second-highest scorer in the competition.

However, Esperance have never made it past fifth place in past Club World Cup appearances—so they’ll be hoping to change that this time around.

Mamelodi Sundowns Look to Bounce Back in the U.S.

Things have been a bit tense for Mamelodi Sundowns after they lost the CAF Champions League final to Pyramids FC—a result many fans didn’t see coming.

Coach Miguel Cardoso, who was also in charge of Esperance when they lost the 2024 final to Ahly, has now lost back-to-back finals.

Supporters were particularly upset that Themba Zwane, a veteran playmaker who had returned from injury, didn’t play in either leg of the final.

Still, there’s plenty of hope. Goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams remains a hero after his historic penalty saves at AFCON 2024, and their group at the Club World Cup looks manageable.

They’ll face:

Ulsan HD (South Korea) on Wednesday, 18 June at midnight SA time
Borussia Dortmund (Germany) on Saturday, 21 June at 18:00
Fluminense FC (Brazil) on Wednesday, 25 June at 21:00

Wydad Casablanca Return with a Revamped Line-Up

Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca had a rocky end to their season, failing to secure a place in next year’s Champions League and sacking South African coach Rhulani Mokwena.

Enter Mohamed Benhachem, the local coach who immediately made an impact—leading the team from six straight draws to three wins in a row to close the season.

They’ve also made key signings, including Stephane Aziz Ki from Tanzania’s Young Africans and Dutch defender Bart Meijers from Bosnia.

Wydad will avoid any Brazilian opposition in the group stage, but they’ve drawn a tough group featuring Manchester City and Juventus.

Most aren’t expecting them to advance, but football is full of surprises.

The Stakes Are High and the World Is Watching

With record-breaking prize money, global exposure, and some of the biggest clubs in the world sharing the pitch, this year’s expanded Club World Cup in the U.S. is a massive opportunity for African teams—not just to win, but to shine on the biggest stage.

So how far will Mamelodi Sundowns and their fellow African sides go? Can they shock the giants of Europe and South America?