FIFA proposes $6.35 billion football development fund

FIFA is proposing to commit $6.35 billion to the development of football worldwide. The four-year fund would allocate $25 million to each of its 211 member national associations, under the proposal. The plan is still awaiting approval.

Its funding would come from the proceeds of the most recent World Cup and financial reserves strengthened by the tournament’s success. FIFA also plans to reinvest World Cup revenue in development projects involving member associations, continental confederations and other relevant parties.

The proposed sum comes against a favourable financial backdrop for the governing body. More than $3.5 billion from FIFA’s reserves would also be distributed, according to two officials speaking anonymously. Those reserves were bolstered by the success of the 48-team World Cup. The proposal has not yet been officially announced.

FIFA is also projecting about $15 billion in revenue over its 2022–2026 financial cycle. That period includes the men’s World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the expected revenue is well above forecasts, the officials said.

The plan comes at a delicate time, as European football leaders seek a candidate to challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency and try to remove him from the post. On September 28, Infantino sent the proposal to the presidents of the six continental confederations, according to a letter seen by the Associated Press.

In the letter, he argued that the organisation’s resources should benefit the game and its members: « Taken as a whole, your proposals confirm that there is broad consensus around the fundamental objective: FIFA’s financial success must serve football and all 211 member associations of the international federation. » He also expressed confidence that an agreement could be reached: « I am convinced that together we can achieve a sustainable and properly supported outcome for FIFA’s member associations and for football around the world. »

The FIFA Council is expected to finalise the plan next December, before it goes to the Federation Congress for approval in March. The next step, therefore, is turning the funding proposal into an adopted programme delivered to the associations.