Gianni Infantino has opened the door to a larger distribution of FIFA’s vast cash reserves, with member associations potentially set for a significant rise in funding from 2027. The FIFA president is backing a review that could redirect part of an estimated $6 billion held by world football’s governing body.
The move
The proposal follows calls from several continental confederations, including UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, for FIFA to send more money directly to its member associations.
One option discussed would guarantee at least $10 million for every FIFA member association across the 2027-2030 cycle. The final shape of any increase has not been decided, with FIFA’s Council due to examine the various plans at its meeting on 15 October.
Infantino said he would support “the highest level of additional funding that can be delivered responsibly”. He has also asked for clear financial frameworks and transparency safeguards before further sums are approved.
A new funding debate after Forward Enterprise
The redistribution discussion comes after FIFA stepped away from the disputed FIFA Forward Enterprise project. That abandoned plan had prompted concerns around how development funding and commercial activity would be managed.
FIFA’s reserves, estimated at close to $6 billion, have become central to the debate. Any decision to release more of that money would affect associations across the global game, from major European federations to smaller football nations reliant on FIFA development payments.
For France and the wider Ligue 1 landscape, the issue sits beyond the weekly match calendar but remains relevant to the structures that finance national-team programmes, grassroots development and the broader football pyramid. The immediate next step is the October Council meeting, where the funding proposals will be assessed.
