FIFA President Gianni Infantino has ordered an assessment of a proposal that could see the world football governing body distribute about $2.1 billion from its reserves to its 211 member associations, following a request from UEFA and CONCACAF.
The proposal calls for each FIFA member association to receive at least $10 million during the 2027–30 cycle, in addition to existing development funding. The money would be intended for investment in football development and infrastructure.
However, FIFA has stressed that the $2.1 billion figure has not been approved. Infantino said the proposal will first undergo financial checks before being considered by the FIFA Council on October 15, 2026. Any additional funding would require formal approval.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani proposed the payout earlier this month, arguing that FIFA’s financial reserves could allow more money to reach national football associations without selling interests in major FIFA competitions.
The two confederation presidents also called for an independent review of FIFA’s reserves. Their analysis estimated that FIFA could have around $6 billion in reserves by the end of 2026 and argued that distributing $2.1 billion would still leave the organisation with substantial funds. They acknowledged, however, that their calculations were preliminary and should be independently assessed.
The proposal comes after FIFA abandoned a controversial plan involving potential private investment in its commercial interests. Infantino had defended that plan as a way of generating additional money for football, but the proposal faced opposition and was subsequently withdrawn.
If approved, the proposed distribution would represent a significant increase in the resources available to national football associations. For countries whose football programmes face infrastructure and development challenges, the additional funding could provide another potential source of investment.
For now, however, national associations must wait for FIFA’s financial assessment and the October 15 Council meeting before knowing whether the proposed payout will become reality.
The $2.1 billion proposal is therefore not yet a FIFA commitment—it remains subject to scrutiny, financial checks and formal approval.
