Fifa plans $3.4bn development funding increase from reserves

Fifa is preparing to propose an additional $3.4bn for football development worldwide, drawing on its cash reserves, according to BBC Sport. The governing body says the commercial performance of this summer's World Cup has made the extra funding possible. The proposal is due before the Fifa council on Thursday.

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The planned increase would more than double the development distributions currently budgeted for the 2027-2030 cycle. The BBC reported that Fifa's existing $2.7bn allocation covers its 211 member associations, continental confederations, regional associations and some associations outside Fifa. The proposed package places particular emphasis on investment in women's and youth football, rather than leaving all spending priorities to recipients.

Under the reported breakdown, each member association would receive $25m, while each of the six continental confederations would receive $99m. Thirteen zonal or regional associations would each be allocated $8.25m. A further provision would give $1.1m apiece to 100 member associations for travel and equipment support, setting out a separate allocation for those needs.

The distribution conditions would divide spending into three equal portions. One third would support women's and youth football development directly. Another third would go towards infrastructure, with equal access required for women's and youth football. The remaining third would fund projects. Those proposed conditions form part of the package still awaiting completion and approval.

The move comes after criticism of president Gianni Infantino's abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal, which sought private investment through the sale of stakes in the World Cup and other competitions. BBC Sport reported that Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation had questioned his position over that plan. The new proposal instead seeks additional money from Fifa's reserves.

Uefa and Concacaf wrote to Infantino in September requesting reserve payments of at least $10m to each member association. He subsequently told the six confederations he supported the largest additional allocation that could responsibly be delivered. Detailed eligibility, application, payment and oversight rules are due to be finalised by the council in December 2026. The package would then require approval at the 77th Fifa congress in March 2027, so the reported figures are not yet an approved distribution.