Nigeria’s Football Federation and FIFA’s other member associations could receive up to $25 million each in development funding for the 2027-2030 cycle under a proposed increase from world football’s governing body.
FIFA has long provided development payments to national football associations across the globe. The planned allocation for each federation over the next four-year period had been set at $10 million, but that figure now appears likely to rise substantially.
Quick facts
- Proposed funding per FIFA member association: $25 million.
- Original 2027-2030 allocation: $10 million per national federation.
- Expected combined payments to associations and confederations: $6 billion.
- FIFA could use $3.5 billion from its reserves.
- The FIFA Council is due to examine the plan tomorrow.
The proposal would lift payments to all member associations from $10 million to $25 million. FIFA is also expected to raise the funds available to the six continental confederations: UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF, OFC and AFC.
Total distributions to national associations and the continental bodies are projected to reach $6 billion. FIFA is expected to finance part of the enlarged package by taking $3.5 billion from its reserves.
The move follows FIFA’s major commercial gains linked to this summer’s expanded 48-team World Cup. It also comes after FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote to the presidents of the six confederations in September, indicating that he was prepared to channel additional funding to member associations.
Infantino, who has faced criticism, is due to seek another term as FIFA president next year.
FIFA’s Council, the organisation’s top decision-making body, is scheduled to consider the 2027-2030 development-funding proposal tomorrow. Should it receive initial backing, the package would then enter a consultation phase.
The Council could then adopt the plan in December, before the increased funding requires final endorsement at the FIFA Congress in March. That congress is also where the FIFA presidential election will take place.
