FIFA is set to propose a $3.4 billion (£2.6 billion) increase in the amount of money it allocates to the development of soccer around the world.
World football’s governing body wants to free money from its reserves in a move BBC Sport has been told will double the level of planned distribution funding for 2027-2030.
The proposal will be made at a meeting of the Fifa board on Thursday and comes at a time when the organization is under pressure following president Gianni Infantino’s aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan.
Infantino wanted to sell his stake in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors, but UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation have come under heavy criticism over the proposal, questioning his position.
UEFA and Concacaf wrote to Infantino in September urging FIFA to pay at least $10m (£7.5m) to each of its 211 member associations from its cash reserves.
In a letter later sent to FIFA’s six continental confederations, Infantino, who is up for a fourth term in March 2027, said he would support “the largest additional funding that can be delivered responsibly”.
FIFA will now offer additional money from its reserves on top of the $2.7 billion to be paid to all 211 member associations, confederations, regional associations and some non-FIFA associations.
The section is as follows:
• $25m (£19m) per member.
• $99 million (£75 million) for each of the six confederations.
• $8.25m (£6.3m) for each of the 13 zone/regional associations
• $1.1 million (£836,000) for 100 member associations for travel and equipment solidarity
The distribution terms will be as follows:
• One third will be allocated to the development of women’s and youth football
• One third will be allocated to infrastructure (of which there will be equal access to women’s and youth football)
• One third will be allocated to projects
The plan, including eligibility, application, approval, payment, monitoring and audit requirements, will be finalized by the FIFA council at its next meeting in December 2026.
All this will be approved by the 77th FIFA Congress in March 2027.