FIFA has unveiled a new funding proposal that could provide up to $20 million to each of its 211 member associations, including the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), as part of efforts 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 allocations under the existing FIFA Forward Programme.
Under the proposal, each member association would receive $20 million in FIFA Forward funding for the 2027–2030 cycle, a significant increase from the current $8 million allocation. The funding would rise to $22 million for the 2031–2034 cycle and $24 million for 2035–2038.
As part of the plan, FIFA would retain sole control of the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would oversee the organisation’s commercial and event operations, while maintaining exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, the international match calendar and all regulatory and sporting decisions.
The proposal also allows FIFA to sell a minority, non-controlling stake in its commercial operations to long-term private investors, a move that has drawn criticism, particularly from UEFA.
FIFA said the increased funding would be used to support football infrastructure, coaching, national teams, competitions, grassroots football and women’s football development across its member associations.
According to the governing body, if approved, the proposal would immediately increase development funding available to all 211 member associations through the FIFA Fast Forward Programme and the FIFA Forward Programme.
FIFA explained that the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise would raise up to $4.2 billion through carefully selected long-term investors based on an initial valuation of $20 billion, with all net proceeds reinvested into football development worldwide.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the initiative is aimed at ensuring that the commercial growth of football benefits every member association.
“Football is the world’s most popular sport and an extraordinary engine of human and social development,” Infantino said.
He added that while some parts of the game have generated significant commercial value, FIFA’s responsibility is to ensure that every member association shares in that growth through sustainable and inclusive development.
Infantino also said every FIFA member association should have the opportunity to access funding and determine its own development priorities.
“This is about the democratisation of football worldwide,” he said.
FIFA stated that the proposal will only take effect after receiving approval from a majority of its member associations and the FIFA Council in line with its governance processes.
The organisation said the initiative could increase its football development funding commitment to more than $10 billion over the next four years, making it the largest investment programme ever undertaken by an international sports body.
FIFA added that the proposal builds on the success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where expanded development funding helped countries such as Cabo Verde and Curaçao qualify for the tournament for the first time.
The governing body said the proposed FIFA Fast Forward Programme would also enable member associations to access additional funding for long-term projects, including stadiums, national training centres and other football infrastructure.
