ZURICH — Fifa are set to propose a $3.4bn (£2.6bn) increase in funding for football development worldwide, a move that would double planned distribution for the 2027-2030 cycle. The proposal, to be funded from the governing body's reserves, will be put to Fifa's council on Thursday, BBC Sport has been told.
The plan comes as Fifa face pressure following the aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, under which president Gianni Infantino wanted to sell stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors. The idea drew heavy criticism, with Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation questioning his position. Uefa and Concacaf wrote to Infantino in September calling on Fifa to pay at least $10m (£7.5m) from cash reserves to each of the 211 member associations. In a letter to Fifa's six continental confederations, Infantino — who will stand for re-election for a fourth term in March 2027 — said he would support "the greatest level of additional funding that can responsibly be delivered".
Fifa will now offer the extra $3.4bn on top of the current $2.7bn already budgeted for distribution to all 211 member associations, the confederations, regional associations and certain non-Fifa affiliated associations. Under the terms, each member association would receive $25m (£19m), each of the six confederations $99m (£75m), each of the 13 zonal and regional associations $8.25m (£6.3m), and 100 member associations would receive $1.1m (£836,000) for travel and equipment solidarity.
The distribution would be split into thirds, with one third allocated to women's and youth football development, one third to infrastructure — with equal access for women's and youth football — and one third to projects. The eligibility, application, approval, disbursement, control and audit requirements will be finalised by the Fifa council at its next meeting in December 2026.
The entire package will be subject to approval by the 77th Fifa Congress in March 2027, when Infantino is due to stand for re-election. If approved, the combined outlay would represent the largest development funding commitment in Fifa's history.