FIFA is expected to put forward a proposal that would see more than $6billion distributed back into the game between 2027-30 — more than double what was previously earmarked for the same period.
This would mean member associations receive $25m — up by $15m from the planned $10m payment — over the four-year cycle, with $99m also provided to each of the six football confederations during the same period.
To cover this, FIFA would distribute more than $3.5bn from its financial reserves, based on the unprecedented commercial success of the 48-team FIFA World Cup, according to a source briefed on the proposals, who spoke anonymously as they did not have permission to talk.
This development comes after Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president who is standing for re-election next year, wrote to the six confederation presidents in September to open the door to distributing more money to member associations.
If this proposal is passed, member associations would have seen the money they receive climb from $1m to $25m since Infantino became FIFA president in 2016.
FIFA’s plan to increase its football development funding for the 2027-30 cycle is set to be discussed by the FIFA Council, the main decision-making body, on Thursday. If approved, it will undergo a consultation process before it is potentially finalised by the FIFA Council in December.
It would then be subject to final approval at the FIFA Congress in March.
The governing body generated approximately $15bn from the men’s tournament, which was jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, which surpassed its initial projection of $11bn, which was revised to $13bn.
However, this plan to distribute more money also comes after thefailed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal — which would have seen a 20 per cent stake of FIFA’s commercial and event operations be made available for private investment — led to Infantino being placed under intense scrutiny.
Aleksander Ceferin, the UEFA president, and Victor Montagliani, the Concacaf president, both called on Infantino to resign following the FFE controversy, while other key stakeholders in football also expressed their anger towards the 56-year-old.
The president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, also held the position that Infantino should stand down, though he has since appeared to soften his stance and even reversed his previous call for any review of FIFA’s governance to be carried out by an independent body.
Both Ceferin and Montagliani have also written to Infantino to call on him to release a portion of the governing body’s reserves to member associations.
As part of the plan expected to be put forward on Thursday, which will be the first time the FIFA Council convenes since the abandoned FFE controversy, FIFA is set to outline a proposal that would see them maintain cash reserves of $1.7bn.
Despite calling for him to resign, neither Ceferin nor Montagliani opted to run for the FIFA presidency, instead remaining with their confederations, nor have they put forward any other candidate to stand against Infantino ahead of next year’s election.
As it stands, Infantino will run unopposed for the third time in a row unless another candidate enters the race before the November 18 deadline.
