World football governing body FIFA is planning to establish a $6.35 billion development fund for the 2026–2030 period, a move that could see each of its 211 member associations receive $25 million to support football development.
The proposal, disclosed by a source familiar with the matter, is expected to be considered at FIFA’s Council meeting in Zurich on Thursday, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino will meet with the organisation’s 36 other executive members.
The proposed fund would provide financial support to FIFA’s 211 member associations and regional confederations over the next four years. Funding would come partly from FIFA’s financial reserves, following expectations of strong commercial returns from the 2026 World Cup.
According to the plan, first reported by the Associated Press, each member association could receive $25 million. The proposed amount is significantly higher than the $10 million sought by two prominent critics of Infantino: UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani.
The Council meeting will be FIFA’s first since April 28 and comes amid growing tensions over the governance and commercial direction of world football.
The dispute intensified earlier this year after Infantino announced plans to open FIFA’s premium competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. The proposal faced widespread opposition from within the football community and was eventually abandoned following resistance led by UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
In response to the concerns surrounding FIFA’s operations, Infantino launched a consultation process with member associations at the end of September to consider reforms to the organisation’s governance. He indicated that the first proposals arising from the consultations could be examined at Thursday’s Council meeting.
Infantino, 56, has led FIFA since 2016 and is seeking another term as president, with the next election scheduled for March 2027.
However, his critics have yet to unite behind a single candidate to challenge him. Ceferin has opted to seek another term as UEFA president, while several media reports suggest Montagliani is also expected to pursue re-election as head of CONCACAF.
The deadline for submitting candidacies for the FIFA presidency is November 18.
If approved, the proposed development fund would represent a major financial commitment by FIFA to its member associations, potentially providing additional resources for football infrastructure, competitions and development programmes worldwide.
Source: AFP
