FIFA proposes $6.35bn football development fund for 2027-2030

FIFA has proposed increasing its global football development funding to $6.35bn for the 2027-2030 period, following expectations of a significant financial surplus from the 2026 World Cup.

The proposal, presented at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, would more than double the organisation's planned investment for the next four-year cycle through a new initiative called the FIFA Surplus Solidarity Programme.

The plan is based on an unaudited projected surplus of between $5.2bn and $5.6bn for the 2023-2026 cycle. If approved, it could see FIFA's 211 member associations receive up to $25m each.

The proposed funding would also extend to continental confederations, regional and zonal associations, and other football stakeholders, with resources directed towards women's and youth football, long-term development programmes and infrastructure.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the organisation wanted the financial success of the World Cup to translate into greater opportunities for the game across the world.

“As has been said many times since 2016, FIFA’s money, including its reserves, belongs to the 211 FIFA Member Associations, and the proposal to increase investment across all FIFA Member Associations, confederations and other stakeholders to USD 6.35 billion aims to reinforce our unwavering commitment to further supporting football development and access globally thanks to the outstanding financial result of the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino said.

The proposal is not yet final and must undergo further assessment by the relevant FIFA committees and the Council before it is included in the organisation's 2026 Annual Report.

It will then be presented for approval at the 77th FIFA Congress, scheduled for March 2027.

If adopted, the programme would represent a substantial increase in the financial resources available to national football associations and other bodies responsible for developing the sport.

The funding is intended to support football development across different levels, including initiatives targeting women and young players, as well as projects designed to strengthen infrastructure and sustain long-term growth.

The Council meeting also addressed concerns surrounding the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), an initiative that had drawn criticism from stakeholders in recent months.

Infantino apologised for mistakes in the handling and communication of the project, confirming that it had been permanently withdrawn and would not be reintroduced in any form.

The meeting further agreed to establish a working group made up of representatives from FIFA's confederations to examine the organisation's governance framework.

In another decision, FIFA's Football Social Responsibility Committee was tasked with evaluating the FIFA Peace Prize. The Council is expected to receive a decision on the matter at its next meeting in December 2026.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has backed Infantino for another term as FIFA president, amid reported pressure from other confederations, including Europe.

However, the official statement following the Council meeting did not announce any decision regarding the FIFA presidency.

FIFA also confirmed plans to review its disciplinary procedures following the decision to suspend for a year the one-match ban imposed on United States forward Folarin Balogun.

The sanction followed Balogun's sending-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 World Cup.

The proposed review is expected to examine the organisation's disciplinary processes in the wake of that decision.

With the development funding proposal still awaiting formal approval, the next steps will involve further scrutiny by FIFA's committees and Council before the plan reaches the Congress in March 2027.