Infantino signals extra FIFA funding without committing to payout amount

Gianni Infantino has signalled support for distributing more of FIFA's cash reserves to its member associations, but has stopped short of committing to a payout amount. BBC Sport reported that the FIFA president set out his position in a letter sent to the organisation's six continental confederations on Monday, 28 September.

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According to BBC Sport, which saw the letter, Infantino favoured providing as much additional funding as FIFA could responsibly afford. The broadcaster put the governing body's estimated cash reserves at £4.4bn. His message did not settle how much each member would receive, leaving the scale of any distribution open for discussion.

UEFA and Concacaf have requested payments of $10m, approximately £7.5m, to each of FIFA's 211 members from those reserves. That proposal is due to go before the FIFA Council on 15 October. Infantino declined to endorse a figure in advance, arguing that agreeing a global funding policy required more than identifying a single sum.

The funding debate follows the withdrawal of FIFA Forward Enterprise, a proposed restructuring of the organisation's commercial business. In its reporting on 21 September, BBC Sport explained that the plan would have placed commercial and ticketing rights for FIFA competitions, including World Cups, in a new company. A private investment company would have acquired a 21% stake in that business.

The abandoned project has also prompted a separate debate about FIFA's governance. BBC Sport reported that Infantino had proposed an external review of the organisation's operations, alongside consultation on changes to its decision-making. His earlier letter identified the president's role and stronger transparency, participation and accountability in major initiatives as subjects for discussion with confederations, national associations and other stakeholders.

Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, who is also a FIFA vice-president, had called for the release of documents relating to the commercial plan and an independent review of it. Infantino has maintained that the project would not have surrendered FIFA's authority over sporting decisions. He is due to seek election for a fourth time in March 2027, with opponents facing an 18 November deadline to find an alternative candidate.