Man City Eliminated Club World Cup, Faces £78m Prize Money Loss

Manchester City suffered a surprising 4-3 defeat to Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal in the first knockout stage of the Club World Cup, resulting in their elimination from the tournament. This loss has cost the club around £9 million in potential prize money, which would have been earned had they progressed further. Despite the setback, Manchester City had already earned approximately £37.8 million in prize money during the group stages, enough to cover transfer fees for key summer signings like Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki. Winning the tournament outright could have brought the club up to £92 million in total earnings, a sum that would cover a significant portion of their player acquisition costs. Manager Pep Guardiola expressed disappointment but acknowledged the narrow margins of the match and emphasized the importance of rest for the team ahead of the new season. Financially, the elimination represents a missed opportunity for Manchester City to capitalize on the lucrative prize money available at the Club World Cup.