FIFA proposes extra £2.6bn for global football development

FIFA is set to propose an additional $3.4 billion (£2.6bn) in funding for football development worldwide, more than doubling its planned distributions for the 2027-2030 cycle.

The proposal would increase the total development budget to $6.35bn (₦8.46 trillion naira), with the governing body attributing the additional funding to the commercial success of this summer’s World Cup.

FIFA will present the proposal at a council meeting on Thursday, with the plan targeting investment in women’s and youth football, infrastructure and development projects across its global membership.

Member associations to receive increased funding

The additional money would come from FIFA’s reserves and supplement the $2.7bn (£2.05bn) already budgeted for distribution to its 211 member associations, continental confederations, regional bodies and selected non-FIFA-affiliated associations.

Under the proposed breakdown, each member association would receive $25 million (£19m), while each of the six continental confederations would receive $99m (£75m).

The 13 zonal and regional associations would each receive $8.25m (£6.3m), while 100 member associations would qualify for an additional $1.1m (£836,000) each for travel and equipment support.

FIFA also plans to divide the funding into three equal categories to guide how the money is spent.

One-third would go towards women’s and youth football development, another third would support infrastructure with equal access for women’s and youth football, while the remaining portion would fund development projects.

Funding plan follows criticism of Infantino proposal

The proposed increase comes amid criticism of FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, which sought to sell stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors.

UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation questioned the proposal, while UEFA and Concacaf wrote to Infantino in September requesting that FIFA distribute at least $10m (£7.5m) from its reserves to each of its 211 member associations.

In a subsequent letter to the six continental confederations, Infantino pledged to support “the greatest level of additional funding that can responsibly be delivered”.

The proposed funding framework, including eligibility criteria, applications, approvals, disbursement, monitoring and auditing requirements, is expected to be finalised at FIFA’s next council meeting in December 2026.

The plan will then require approval at the 77th FIFA Congress in March 2027, when Infantino is expected to stand for a fourth term as president.