FAI set to bank a serious wedge from Euro 2016 qualification

Depending on the reports you read or your levels of optimism, the FAI could bring in between €15m and €20m.

We always believed UEFA had expanded the European Championships to spread the joy of tournament football to more nations. Instead, with the sums of money being bandied around for Euro 2016, it seems more likely that it was a money-making exercise. Due to increased advertising spend and money from countries taking part in the tournament, prize money and bonus payments for the 24 participating teams [and their football associations] is reportedly doubling. And then some. Pay-outs for Euro 2016, from UEFA, are set to rise from €185m. Conservative estimates have UEFA paying out €375m for next summer's event while The Irish Times believes that figure could be in excess of €420m. For qualifying for their second successive European Championships, Ireland's footballers have earned the FAI a basic pay-out of €12m. That would rise to in the region of €15m if Ireland reach even the first knock-out stage. That is without the sponsorship and advertising that the FAI will net in the lead-up to, and during, next summer. All told, Ireland's qualification could bank in excess of €20m for the association.