World football governing body, FIFA, has said that it would spend $10 billion to develop the game across the world.

According to FIFA, if approved, football development in every corner of the world would benefit immediately from the increased funding available to all 211 FIFA Member Associations (MAs):

The fund includes (1) an optional $20 million per MA in exceptional and immediate funding for special projects from the new FIFA Fast-Forward Programme (FFFP), (2) $20 million per MA in Forward funding for 2027-2030 (currently budgeted USD 8 million), (3) $22 million per MA in Forward funding for 2031-2034 and (4) $24 million per MA in Forward funding for 2035-2038.

It explained: “This would be achieved via FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new FIFA-owned and controlled subsidiary consolidating FIFA’s commercial and event operations; FIFA would retain sole control of FFE and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, match calendar, and all regulatory and sporting decisions.

“FFE would raise to USD 4.2 billion later this year to fund FFFP, based on an initial equity valuation of USD 20 billion, by carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests in FFE. All net benefits of FFE will be reinvested back into football worldwide.

“In full respect of FIFA’s democratic and governance principles, the launch of this new structure is subject to the support of a majority of MAs and the relevant approvals of the FIFA Council.

FIFA said that it is exploring, in accordance with its mandate, the concept of bringing together FIFA’s commercial rights – spanning broadcast, sponsorship, ticketing, and licensing – with the operational delivery of FIFA tournaments through the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). “A consultation process has begun following the receipt of a proposal that aims to unlock the full potential of FIFA’s broadcast rights and sponsorships across all of its tournament portfolio in men’s, women’s and youth football.

“Central to this would be a repositioning of FIFA Forward, FIFA’s flagship development programme, which aims to increase funding per FIFA Member Association (MA) from USD 8 million to USD 20 million for the 2027-30 cycle and grow steadily thereafter cycle-on-cycle. This funding would support infrastructure, coaching, national teams, competitions, grassroots football and the women’s game,” it added.

The process follows an address by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations on the eve of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final in New York, where he reiterated his intention to “unleash the commercial potential and opportunity that FIFA has”, a position that had already been outlined in his speech to the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada, in April 2026.

“Football is the world’s most popular sport and an extraordinary engine of human and social development,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “Parts of the game have turned that popularity into remarkable commercial value – and we celebrate that success and want it to continue, because it lifts the whole game. Our job is to make sure the rest of football grows with it: FIFA exists to support sustainable, inclusive development in every corner of the world.

“As its global governing body, FIFA is responsible for making sure the game reaches every corner of the world, and that the value it creates supports federations and communities everywhere. Our next stage of growth needs a structure built for it, one where the commercial side of the game operates as a focused, dedicated business, with its value shared more and better all around the world. Every FIFA Member Association should have an opportunity to seek a fair share of the available funding to shape its own future, deciding for itself rather than relying on others. This is about the democratisation of football worldwide.”

“We intend to invest heavily even in the smallest or most remote parts of the footballing world, places that are too often passed over. Every FIFA Member Association, whatever its size, resources, or geographic location, will have a voice and the opportunity to determine its own course. Football has become a truly global game and so the benefits must be felt globally.”

As part of FFE, FIFA said that it would establish the FIFA Fast Forward Programme (FFFP), an optional mechanism that would allow MAs to unlock additional development funding. This would unlock new opportunities for projects such as stadiums and national training centres, and other long-term infrastructure that may otherwise sit beyond the reach of a single development cycle.

It would ensure that each of the 211 MAs would be offered the opportunity to participate in FFFP to access up to $20 million in one-off capital.

“Participation would be entirely voluntary, and no MA would be required to participate. The additional funding would be financed through FFE’s planned initial capital raise of up to $4.2 billion. This would be based on an implied valuation of $20 billion. Any net benefits of FFE would be fully reinvested back into football,” it added.

But it seems that not everybody is enthused by the new project, particularly UEFA, which described the proposal as “FIFA crossing the line.”

Reacting furiously to FIFA’s plan to seek private investment in its competitions, including the World Cup, the European football governing body described the announcement “as a step too far – and raises the potential for further expansion of Fifa competitions to raise revenue, both in terms of size and frequency, which could threaten its own lucrative competitions.

“UEFA takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder who cares about the future of the game.

“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us is the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”

The matter is likely to be a topic of conversation at the next FIFA Council meeting in the autumn and then around the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, featuring Champions League winners Paris St-Germain, in December.

The proposal could be voted on by all 211 members at the FIFA Congress in Morocco in March.