Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who has been in office since 2016, has signaled a willingness to distribute additional capital from the organization’s estimated £4.4bn cash reserves to its members. In a correspondence directed to the six continental confederations on Monday, Infantino expressed his support for providing the highest level of extra funding that can be delivered in a responsible manner.
This initiative follows formal demands from Uefa and Concacaf—representing Europe and North/Central America and the Caribbean—for Fifa to issue $10m (£7.5m) to each of its 211 member associations. The Fifa Council is scheduled to evaluate this proposal during their upcoming meeting on 15 October. While acknowledging the discussion, Infantino stated, “I will not prejudge the amount,” adding that while a specific figure might launch the dialogue, it cannot serve as the basis for a comprehensive global policy. The proposal will be considered by the Fifa Council when they meet on 15 October.
The move comes amid significant scrutiny regarding the abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan. This failed scheme, which involved selling equity stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors, prompted widespread backlash and calls for the president’s resignation. Defending his actions, the Swiss-Italian administrator maintained that the withdrawn proposal was solely intended to secure more investment for the sport.
Pressure remains high, with Football Association chair and Fifa vice-president Debbie Hewitt recently demanding the disclosure of all documents related to the FFE plan and calling for an independent review. Meanwhile, the political landscape remains active; Infantino is set to run for a fourth term in the March 2027 election. Challengers have until 18 November to identify and put forward an alternative candidate.
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