Becali’s Bite: FCSB Owner Gigi Becali Agrees to Exclude Club from FIFA World Cup Payments

Contractual terms leave FCSB without World Cup revenue

Although Joao Paulo is one of the few players from Romania’s SuperLiga competing in the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, his participation provides no direct financial gain for his current employer. According to reporting from Fanatik, a specific clause in the transfer agreement finalized in February 2026 dictates that all FIFA participation payments—which amount to $8,000 per day—are to be directed to Oțelul Galați.

The FIFA Club Benefit Programme is designed to reward clubs for releasing players to their national teams for the World Cup. Under standard regulations, this payment is distributed to every club the player was registered with in the two years preceding the tournament. However, individual transfer contracts often include secondary clauses that assign these rights to a selling club as part of the total transfer consideration. In this instance, Oțelul Galați successfully negotiated the retention of these specific future revenues, effectively insulating themselves from the player’s move to the Bucharest giants.

FCSB owner Gigi Becali confirmed the arrangement in a recent interview, acknowledging that while the club benefits from the player’s visibility on the international stage, the financial compensation is strictly allocated to the Galați-based club. Becali previously paid a transfer fee of €600,000 to secure the midfielder earlier this year, and as noted by Sport.ro, he has since set a €3 million release clause for the player. This valuation strategy reflects the club’s intent to capitalize on potential exposure gained during the tournament, even if the direct FIFA rebate remains with his former side.

High-stakes debut against Spain and Lamine Yamal

Joao Paulo, who primarily plays as a left-back for the Cape Verde national team, faces an immediate challenge in Group H. His first match is scheduled for June 15 against Spain, where he is expected to match up directly against Barcelona star Lamine Yamal. The Spanish national team coach, Luis de la Fuente, recently addressed the fitness of his squad, confirming that several key players are recovering in time for the opener.

“Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal and Victor Munoz are progressing in terms of recovery. I believe all three will be available for the first match. It is great news.”

Luis de la Fuente, Spanish national team head coach, via Sport.ro

For Joao Paulo, the matchup against a player of Yamal’s caliber represents a significant test of his defensive capabilities on the world’s biggest stage. The tactical setup for Cape Verde will likely require him to balance his aggressive attacking instincts with disciplined positioning to contain the Spanish wingers. Despite the high profile of the matchup, Joao Paulo enters the tournament with match fitness. Sport.ro reports that the midfielder played the full 90 minutes in Cape Verde’s recent 3-0 victory over Bermuda. This followed another 3-0 warm-up win against Serbia, in which Paulo appeared as a substitute.

Cape Verde’s team profile and regional presence

The anticipation surrounding the player has reached the highest levels of his home nation. President Jose Maria Neves of Cape Verde was recently filmed participating in a World Cup sticker-collecting challenge, where he expressed visible excitement upon finding a card featuring Joao Paulo. According to Sport.ro, the president also discussed his preference for players like Neymar and Ryan Mendes during the event.

The player’s family ties to the Romanian league have also deepened recently. Oțelul Galați announced the signing of Joao Paulino Moreira Fernandes, the twin brother of the FCSB midfielder. Joao Paulino, who has previous experience in Romania with Poli Iași, is expected to provide an offensive option for the club. This sibling connection to the Romanian league underscores the growing footprint of Cape Verdean players within the SuperLiga ecosystem.

Following the clash with Spain, Cape Verde will conclude their group stage with matches against Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. The outcome of these games, and any potential standout performances by Joao Paulo, may influence his market value beyond the current €3 million release clause set by the FCSB management. For a club like FCSB, the long-term utility of the player remains the primary objective, as they look to integrate his international experience into their domestic league campaign upon his return to Bucharest.

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