Gor Mahia Football Club is poised to be among the big beneficiaries of the newly enhanced FIFA Club Benefits Programme (CBP), following the participation of six of its players in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. This marks a major milestone not just for the players and their respective national teams, but for the club itself, which now stands to gain financially through FIFA’s expanded compensation plan.

For the first time in the history of the CBP, clubs will be directly compensated not only for releasing players to the final World Cup tournament, but also for releasing them to participate in the qualification matches. This policy shift means that Gor Mahia, which has contributed multiple players to national teams competing in the qualifiers, will earn a share of the record-breaking Ksh. 52.2 billion fund set aside for the programme.

This is a significant increase from the Ksh. 30.7 billion distributed after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and it reflects FIFA’s commitment to recognizing the contribution of clubs across the world – not just elite European sides – in growing and sustaining international football.

By releasing six players ; Bryne Omondi, Alpha Onyango, Kibwage, Silvester Owino, Lewis Bandi and Ben Stanley Omondi for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Gor Mahia will receive compensation for each player’s time with their national team during international windows. These payments are calculated based on the number of days a player is released to the national team and registered with the club, ensuring that even clubs outside the top five leagues globally can benefit meaningfully from their investment in talent.

Using the previous compensation model, clubs were paid approximately Ksh. 1.47 million per player per day. Assuming each of the six Gor Mahia players spent 10 days on international duty, the club could earn an estimated Ksh. 88.2 million – or more, depending on how many windows and matchdays are involved.

Aside from the direct financial benefit, Gor Mahia also stands to gain from increased visibility and player valuation. Featuring players in high-level international competitions boosts the club’s reputation, makes its players more attractive in the transfer market, and sends a strong signal to prospective signings about the club’s ability to offer an international platform.

As one of Kenya’s most successful and historic clubs, Gor Mahia can also leverage these appearances to attract sponsorships and grow its brand both locally and continentally. The fact that FIFA now formally recognizes the club’s contribution to international football beyond the final tournament is a testament to the importance of Gor Mahia’s role in the game’s development.

While FIFA has not yet released the specific payment structure, the new approach is already being hailed as a step towards fairer and more inclusive redistribution of football revenues – one that rewards clubs like Gor Mahia for their consistent role in producing and developing international-calibre talent.