FIFA increases football development funding to $6.35 billion.

The International Football Federation proposed a plan at its October 15, 2026 council meeting to increase football development funding to $6.35 billion for the 2027–2030 period, according to the specialized sports economics platform. This proposal follows the abandonment of the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative and months of criticism over its design.

FIFA’s official announcement stated that the new proposal was developed using a portion of the organization’s reserves, following the commercial success of the 2026 World Cup. FIFA estimates a surplus of $5.2 to $5.6 billion for the 2023–2026 financial cycle and has suggested allocating $1.7 billion as a precautionary reserve.

Under the proposed plan, each of the 211 member federations could receive up to $25 million in funding. The final details regarding eligibility, application, approval, payment, oversight, and auditing will need to be reviewed by the relevant committees. The program’s final approval will depend on future decisions by the FIFA Council and the FIFA Congress, so the announced figures should be viewed as part of a proposal still under consideration.

This decision is significant for football economics, as disparities in federation income levels are a major barrier to balanced global football development. Support funds can be used for infrastructure, grassroots programs, women’s football development, and long-term projects, provided that budget allocation is accompanied by effective oversight and clear criteria.

Increased funding alone is not a measure of success. The effectiveness of these resources will be better assessed through project implementation rates, infrastructure quality, increased sports participation, and spending transparency.

Primary source: FIFA’s official announcement on increasing investment in football development, October 15, 2026.

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