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FIFA President Gianni Infantino has indicated that member associations could receive increased funding from the governing body’s substantial cash reserves, following calls for a major distribution to national football federations.
Infantino said he would support the highest level of additional funding that can responsibly be delivered, although he stopped short of committing to the specific amount requested by UEFA and CONCACAF.
The FIFA president made the comments in a letter sent to the heads of the organisation’s six continental confederations on Monday, according to BBC Sport.
The development comes amid continuing tensions over FIFA’s now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which would have involved outside investment in FIFA’s commercial rights.
UEFA and CONCACAF call for $10 million per member
The latest development follows a joint proposal from UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani.
The two FIFA vice-presidents have called for at least $10 million to be made available to each of FIFA’s 211 member associations during the 2027–2030 cycle.
If approved at that level, the distribution would amount to approximately $2.1 billion.
UEFA and CONCACAF have argued that FIFA’s financial position means it can increase direct support to national associations without relying on the proposed FFE investment structure.
Their proposal also called for an independent review of FIFA’s financial reserves and projections.
FIFA has billions in reserves
The debate centres on FIFA’s substantial financial position.
UEFA and CONCACAF estimate that FIFA’s reserves could reach around $6 billion by the end of the 2023–26 financial cycle.
The BBC, meanwhile, has described FIFA’s cash reserves as approximately £4.4 billion.
The continental confederations have argued that some of those reserves could be distributed directly to member associations for football development.
Their proposed $10 million allocation would be additional to funding already available through FIFA’s existing Forward Programme.
Infantino does not commit to a specific figure
While Infantino has indicated support for additional funding, he has not endorsed the $10 million figure proposed by UEFA and CONCACAF.
In his letter, he said he would not prejudge the amount and stressed that any additional distribution should be based on a broader assessment of FIFA’s financial position and future commitments.
Reuters reports that Infantino has instructed FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström to consolidate the various funding proposals ahead of consideration by the FIFA Council.
The FIFA Council is expected to discuss the issue on October 15, 2026.
Fallout from FIFA Forward Enterprise
The funding debate comes after Infantino abandoned the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.
The FFE plan was designed to create a new commercial entity that would bring together FIFA’s commercial rights, including broadcasting, sponsorship, licensing and other revenue streams.
FIFA had said the proposed structure could significantly increase the amount available for football development.
In July, FIFA announced that the proposal would not proceed in its original form after opposition from several football bodies.
Infantino has continued to defend the underlying objective of the proposal, saying it was intended to generate additional resources for football rather than reduce existing funding.
Calls for greater transparency
The abandoned FFE proposal has also triggered demands for greater transparency and an independent review.
UEFA and CONCACAF have questioned whether FIFA needed to pursue outside investment given the size of its existing reserves.
Other football officials have also called for greater scrutiny of the decision-making process surrounding the proposed commercial structure.
Reuters reported that FIFA has separately indicated that a review of the withdrawn FFE proposal would be presented to the FIFA Council.
Infantino’s 2027 election adds to the backdrop
The funding dispute comes months before Infantino is due to seek another term as FIFA president.
He is expected to stand for re-election in March 2027, with potential challengers facing a deadline of November 18, 2026 to enter the contest.
The debate over FIFA’s reserves, the abandoned FFE proposal and the organisation’s governance is therefore likely to remain a major issue within world football in the months ahead.
For now, the key question is how much FIFA can distribute to its 211 member associations while maintaining sufficient reserves to meet its future financial commitments.
The FIFA Council’s October meeting is expected to provide the next significant indication of the direction of the funding policy.
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