Dundee United will bank a six-figure windfall if new signing Dylan Levitt is selected for Wales’ World Cup squad.
The Tangerines completed a major coup on Thursday by tempting the precocious playmaker back to Tannadice on a two-year contract, having struck a permanent deal with Manchester United.
And Levitt could repay a chunk of the fee paid by United within a matter of months, providing he realises his dream of being picked for Qatar 2022.
As part of FIFA’s Club Benefit Payments Programme, a share of the profits from the successful hosting of a World Cup is distributed among associated teams who provided players for the competition.
For the tournament this winter, every club who sends a star to the Middle-East will receive a proportional share of $209 million (roughly £175 million).
That overall pot is divided between an estimation of the cumulative amount of days players will spend at the competition.
That produces a player-per-day fee just north of £7,000 (subject to taxes and deductions). It does not matter whether they feature in their country’s matches.
The paid period begins two weeks before the opening match of the tournament — Senegal against Netherlands on November 21 — and lasts until the day after their nation’s elimination.
The payout is shared between the clubs with which the player was registered in the two years prior to the tournament, on a pro rata basis.
As a loan deal requires a temporary transfer of FIFA registration, Dundee United would be due the cash which covers last season as well as the five months leading up to the Qatar showpiece; roughly three-quarters of the remuneration.
So what will Dundee United earn
As such, if Wales were to be eliminated at the end of the group phase, the Tangerines will bank £125,000 of a total £165,000 due for Levitt’s participation.
That is the worst case scenario for United.
To the other extreme: if Rob Page was to lead his troops to the World Cup final — and they did reach the semis in their last major finals in 2016, after all — then £220,000 of a total £300,000 would make its way to Tannadice.
Payments are distributed by the Scottish FA and will be given to relevant member clubs after the successful staging of the World Cup.
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