Ghanaian football powerhouse Hearts of Oak are poised to benefit financially following the selection of goalkeeper Benjamin Asare in Ghana’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Asare earned a place in the Black Stars’ final squad announced by head coach Carlos Queiroz for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, making him the only locally based player included in the team.
Asare’s selection marks a proud milestone for both himself and Hearts of Oak, while also unlocking a lucrative reward for the club through FIFA’s Club Benefits Program.
Under the scheme, FIFA compensates clubs for releasing players to participate in the World Cup. Participating clubs receive approximately $11,000 per day for each player released, starting 10 days before the tournament begins and continuing until one day after the player’s national team exits the competition.
Even if Ghana’s journey concludes at the group stage, Hearts of Oak are set to pocket at least $250,000 thanks to Asare’s participation in the tournament.
The compensation is awarded regardless of a player’s playing time, meaning clubs receive the same benefit whether the player features regularly or remains unused during the competition.
The Club Benefits Program was established through a partnership between FIFA and the European Club Association (ECA) and was renewed in 2023 for the 2023–2026 football cycle. The initiative is designed to reward clubs for developing and releasing players for international duty.
Another feature of the program allows payments to be shared among clubs that registered the player within the two years preceding the World Cup. However, Hearts of Oak are expected to receive the largest share due to Asare’s current registration with the club.
For the Phobians, this timely financial boost could fuel new investments in player development, infrastructure, and the club’s day-to-day ambitions.
The club can also celebrate having a World Cup representative for the second tournament in a row, further cementing its status as one of Ghana’s premier talent factories.
