-
Infantino Issues Public Apology Over FIFA Forward Enterprise as FIFA Plans $6.35bn Funding Boost
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has addressed the controversy surrounding the now-withdrawn FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal while unveiling plans for a major increase in development funding for the organization’s 211 member associations.
The announcement followed a FIFA Council meeting at the organisation’s headquarters in Zurich, where the governing body confirmed that the FFE initiative would not be revived. The proposal had attracted criticism in recent months, prompting questions about FIFA’s plans for its financial reserves and how funds should be distributed.
Infantino acknowledged concerns over how the initiative had been handled and communicated, with the council also discussing the need for unity and greater support for football development worldwide.
The meeting also brought news of the proposed FIFA Surplus Solidarity Programme, which aims to increase funding for the 2027–2030 cycle following the expected commercial success of the expanded 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Under the proposal, FIFA’s total support package would rise to $6.35 billion, while allocations to each member association could reach $25 million. The plan is based on an estimated surplus of between $5.2 billion and $5.6 billion, with FIFA retaining $1.7 billion in reserves.
“As has been said many times since 2016, FIFA’s money, including its reserves, belongs to the 211 FIFA Member Associations, and the proposal to increase investment across all FIFA Member Associations, confederations and other stakeholders to USD 6.35 billion aims to reinforce our unwavering commitment to further supporting football development and access globally thanks to the outstanding financial result of the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino stated.
He added: “In ten years since I became FIFA President, we have gone from USD 1 million per FIFA Member Association to USD 25 million each – all across the world. At the same time, I would like to thank everyone who has made suggestions over the past few months on the distribution of FIFA’s funds to our 211 FIFA Member Associations as we need to look forward in a spirit of unity and in the best interests of football.”
FIFA also confirmed that a new working group, featuring representatives from across the confederations, would review the organization’s governance framework. Members were briefed by external lawyers on confidential legal proceedings in the United States connected to the FFE matter.
If approved, the new funding programme would support areas including women’s football, youth development, infrastructure and long-term projects. FIFA said further work was needed to finalise eligibility criteria, application procedures and disbursement rules, alongside measures to ensure accountability and proper auditing.
“We held discussions in relation to the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, where everyone had the opportunity to ask questions and express their views,” Infantino said.
The FIFA administration will now work with the relevant committees to prepare the programme’s full framework for presentation to the FIFA Council at its next meeting in December 2026.
Other matters discussed in Zurich included a review of the FIFA Peace Prize by the Football Social Responsibility Committee and a review of disciplinary procedures by the Legal Committee following Folarin Balogun’s suspended ban.
The proposed funding expansion and other major items are expected to be submitted for formal consideration at the 77th FIFA Congress in March 2027.