Mamelodi Sundowns may have seen their FIFA Club World Cup journey come to an end earlier than they had hoped, but the Brazilians will leave the United States with plenty to be proud of – including a hefty financial reward of R228 million.
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The reigning Betway Premiership champions represented South Africa and the African continent with distinction in Group A, holding Brazilian giants Fluminense to a 0-0 draw in their final group encounter after recording a historic 1-0 win over South Korea’s Ulsan HD in their tournament opener.
While their dream of progressing to the next round was dashed following Fluminense’s advancement, Sundowns’ efforts on the pitch translated into substantial off-field gains.
For simply participating in the revamped Club World Cup, the Pretoria-based side walked away with a participation fee of approximately R174 million.
Their victory over Ulsan earned them an additional R36 million, while their goalless draw with Fluminense added a further R18 million to the tally, taking their total earnings from the tournament to a staggering R228 million.
They did not receive any money for their 4-3 loss to Borussia Dortmund; however, it marks one of the most lucrative campaigns in the club’s history, even without lifting the trophy.
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