Fifa to offer extra £2.6bn for football development

What the report says

Fifa is preparing to ask its governing council to approve a major rise in development funding for football around the world, according to BBC Sport Football. The proposal would add $3.4bn (£2.6bn) from Fifa’s reserves and, if approved, would roughly double the planned distribution budget for the 2027-2030 cycle.

The BBC said the plan is due to be discussed at a council meeting on Thursday and comes after months of pressure on Fifa following criticism of president Gianni Infantino’s abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise idea. That earlier plan, which involved selling stakes in World Cup and other competitions to private investors, drew concern from several confederations. Uefa and Concacaf had also urged Fifa to pay more from its reserves to member associations.

Under the new proposal, the extra funds would be added to an existing $2.7bn distribution budget for Fifa’s 211 member associations, the six confederations, regional associations and some non-Fifa affiliated groups. BBC Sport reported that the money would be divided among direct payments, solidarity support, and earmarked development areas.

The proposal still needs further detail to be finalized by the council in December 2026 and then approved by the Fifa Congress in March 2027. If adopted, it would shape funding for women’s and youth football, infrastructure and other projects during Fifa’s next cycle, making it a significant decision for the global game.