The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and 210 other FIFA member associations could each receive up to $20 million under a new funding proposal unveiled by FIFA to boost football development across the world.
The proposal, announced on Tuesday, includes an optional one-off $20 million grant through the proposed FIFA Fast Forward Programme (FFFP) for special projects, alongside increased financial support under the existing FIFA Forward Programme.
If approved, each member association will receive $20 million during the 2027–2030 funding cycle, a significant increase from the current $8 million allocation.
The proposed funding would rise to $22 million for the 2031–2034 cycle and $24 million between 2035 and 2038.
According to FIFA, the increased funding will support football infrastructure, coaching, national teams, grassroots football, competitions and the development of women’s football.
The governing body also plans to establish a new subsidiary known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which will oversee FIFA’s commercial and event operations.
Under the proposal, FIFA will retain exclusive control over football governance, competitions, the international match calendar and all sporting and regulatory decisions, even as it seeks to sell a minority stake in the commercial arm to long-term investors.
In a statement, FIFA said the initiative would ensure greater investment in football development worldwide.
“If approved, football development in every corner of the world would benefit immediately from increased funding available to all 211 FIFA Member Associations,” FIFA stated.
The organisation explained that the new commercial structure would raise up to $4.2 billion later this year to finance the FIFA Fast Forward Programme.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the proposal was designed to ensure that football’s commercial success benefits every member association.
“Football is the world’s most popular sport and an extraordinary engine of human and social development. Our job is to make sure the rest of football grows with it. FIFA exists to support sustainable, inclusive development in every corner of the world,” Infantino said.
He added that every member association should have the opportunity to access funding and decide its own development priorities.
“Every FIFA Member Association should have an opportunity to seek a fair share of the available funding to shape its own future. This is about the democratisation of football worldwide,” he added.
FIFA said the proposal will only take effect if it receives approval from a majority of its member associations and the FIFA Council.
If adopted, the initiative would increase FIFA’s total football development commitment to more than $10 billion over the next four years, making it the largest investment programme ever introduced by a sports organisation.
