Infantino Pledges Bigger Payout From FIFA Cash Reserves to Member Federations
FIFA could soon distribute more money from its reserves to the 211 member federations. Gianni Infantino has told the six confederations he supports the highest level of additional funding that can be responsibly delivered. The FIFA Council will discuss the proposal on 15 October after UEFA and Concacaf called for a payment of $10m to every member.
ByNatilla4 min read
FIFA is preparing a new payout to its member federations. President Gianni Infantino has written to the six continental confederations to say he will support the highest amount of additional funding that can be responsibly released from cash reserves estimated at around £4.4bn. The move comes amid growing internal pressure over the abandoned plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights, and just weeks before the FIFA Council examines the proposal.
- Infantino supports an additional distribution from FIFA reserves but has not set a figure.
- UEFA and Concacaf are asking for $10m for each of the 211 member federations.
- The FIFA Council will discuss the proposal at its meeting on 15 October.
- The letter follows the backlash over the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise project.
- Infantino will seek a fourth term, with opponents given until 18 November to find a candidate.
How Much Money FIFA Could Distribute to Its Members
The letter sent to the confederations on Monday avoids fixing an amount. Infantino wrote that he will not prejudge the figure and argued that a single number can start a discussion but cannot complete a global policy. His wording leaves room to go beyond the $10m per federation requested by UEFA and Concacaf, although he stops short of committing to any number before hearing from all parties.
UEFA and Concacaf Demand $10m for Every Federation
The confederations for Europe and for North America, Central America and the Caribbean were the first to put a figure forward. They demanded that FIFA pay $10m, about £7.5m, to each of its 211 members from the organisation's reserves. The call gathered momentum as a response to the loss of trust triggered by the commercial project that Infantino eventually withdrew.
The FIFA Forward Enterprise Fallout and Resignation Calls
FIFA Forward Enterprise proposed selling stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors, sparking a major backlash and calls for Infantino to step down. The Swiss-Italian official offered a fresh defence of the already scrapped initiative, saying it had been designed to allow FIFA to invest more in football. Earlier this month Debbie Hewitt, the Football Association chair and a FIFA vice-president, urged Infantino to release all documents related to the plan and called for an independent review.
The recent commercial proposal, now withdrawn, was intended to enable FIFA to invest more in football.
The Road to the 2027 FIFA Presidential Election
Infantino, first elected in 2016, will stand for a fourth term in the election scheduled for March 2027. Anyone hoping to challenge him has until 18 November to present an alternative candidate. The handling of the reserve payout and the fallout from FIFA Forward Enterprise will shape the run-up to that vote.
What the FIFA Council Will Decide on 15 October
The proposal to increase funding for member federations will be debated at the FIFA Council meeting set for 15 October. On the table will be the request from UEFA and Concacaf, Infantino's willingness to raise the payout, and the need to agree on a distribution mechanism that satisfies all six confederations without putting the organisation's financial stability at risk.
Frequently asked questions
How much will FIFA pay each member federation?
No final amount has been set. UEFA and Concacaf are asking for $10m per federation across the 211 members, and Infantino has said he supports the largest additional payout that can be responsibly delivered.
When will FIFA decide on the new reserve payout?
The FIFA Council will examine the proposal at its meeting on 15 October. That is where the confederations' request will be debated and the amount and distribution mechanism are expected to be defined.
What was FIFA Forward Enterprise?
It was a plan pushed by Infantino to sell stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors. It triggered strong internal opposition and calls for an independent review before being withdrawn.