Up to $25m per member association could land under FIFA's new surplus plan, and African infrastructure and grassroots stand to gain.
African football could be one of the biggest winners from a huge new FIFA funding proposal. The governing body wants to lift its global development spending to $6.35 billion for the 2027-2030 cycle, and that could mean better pitches, stronger academies and more support for grassroots programmes across the continent.
The plan was presented at the FIFA Council meeting in Zurich under a new banner, the FIFA Surplus Solidarity Programme. It would more than double what was previously earmarked for the next four-year cycle. The boost comes from the projected financial success of the 2026 World Cup, with FIFA pointing to an unaudited surplus of between $5.2 billion and $5.6 billion for the 2023-2026 period.
Under the proposal, each of FIFA's 211 member associations could receive as much as $25 million. Confederations, regional and zonal associations and other stakeholders would also get a bigger share. The money would be tied to priorities such as women's and youth football, long-term projects and football infrastructure, areas where many African federations have been crying out for investment.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino framed the move as a promise kept, saying FIFA's money, reserves included, belongs to the 211 member associations and that the World Cup's success should benefit the game everywhere. He also apologised over a withdrawn project. The proposal still has to move through the approval process, so the real test for African federations will be turning any extra cash into lasting results on and off the pitch.
