FIFA is facing increasing pressure from UEFA and Concacaf to share its financial resources with its member associations. They have formally requested that FIFA distribute at least $10 million to each of its 211 member organizations from its reserves. This move follows recent controversy surrounding FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s now-canceled FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative.
The appeal was made through a letter signed by UEFA’s president, Aleksander Ceferin, and Concacaf’s president, Victor Montagliani. They highlighted that FIFA is projected to finish the 2023-26 funding cycle with around $6 billion in reserves—much more than necessary for the upcoming 2030 men’s World Cup.
Ceferin and Montagliani emphasized, “FIFA currently holds billions of dollars in accumulated reserves. These funds belong to football and should benefit the game and its member associations.”
Their call for a $10 million distribution aims to support infrastructure and football development across the member associations from 2027 to 2030. Implementing this one-time distribution would cost FIFA approximately $2.11 billion, adding to its regular funding for associations.
This request comes on the heels of substantial pushback against Infantino’s FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, which was withdrawn just days after its announcement. The initiative proposed establishing a new company to manage commercial and ticketing rights for FIFA events, including the World Cup, with plans for a possible 21 percent stake to be sold to investors.
Infantino had promised FIFA members $40 million if they supported the initiative, with a deadline for approval looming on September 19 to access an initial $20 million. However, UEFA and Concacaf raised doubts about whether the new structure was truly necessary to enhance funding, stating their analysis of FIFA’s financial data was “deliberately conservative.” They have asked for an independent review of FIFA’s finances, seeking clarity on the figures and assumptions used.
The letter reached out to the presidents of other FIFA confederations to rally support for this financial distribution. This development follows an appeal from Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, who has requested documents related to the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan and called for an explanation regarding the unexpected suspension of U.S. forward Folarin Balogun during the World Cup.
As Infantino prepares to run for a fourth term as FIFA president in March, he must address these pressing matters before the next FIFA Council meeting on October 15. Candidates seeking to challenge his position have until November 18 to announce their intentions.
