FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called for unity within world football and reaffirmed the governing body’s commitment to supporting its 211 Member Associations, as the FIFA Council met at the Home of FIFA in Zurich for the first time following the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The meeting focused on increasing investment in global football development, addressing criticism surrounding the withdrawn FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal and examining potential reforms to FIFA’s governance framework.
In a major development, FIFA’s administration proposed the FIFA Surplus Solidarity Programme, which aims to increase planned football development funding for the 2027–2030 cycle to USD 6.35 billion, more than doubling the previously planned level of investment. The proposal follows the exceptional commercial returns generated by the 48-team FIFA World Cup 2026.
Based on an unaudited forecast of a surplus of USD 5.2 billion to USD 5.6 billion for the 2023–2026 cycle, FIFA has proposed retaining USD 1.7 billion in reserves to meet unforeseen circumstances.
Under the proposed programme, allocations to each of FIFA’s 211 Member Associations could reach USD 25 million. Funding for confederations, regional and zonal associations, and other stakeholders would also increase significantly under the Forward 4.0 framework.
The proposed funding structure will place greater emphasis on women’s and youth football, long-term development projects and football infrastructure. The eligibility criteria, application procedures, approval mechanisms, disbursement arrangements and auditing requirements will be finalised by the relevant FIFA committees and the Council.
The proposal is scheduled for further consideration at the FIFA Council meeting in December 2026 before being incorporated into FIFA’s 2026 Annual Report. The programme will subsequently require approval at the 77th FIFA Congress in March 2027.
“FIFA’s money, including its reserves, belongs to the 211 FIFA Member Associations,” Infantino said, emphasising the organisation’s commitment to expanding football development and access worldwide.
He also highlighted the growth in funding during his decade as FIFA President, stating that allocations per Member Association had increased from USD 1 million to USD 25 million.
Infantino apologises over withdrawn proposal:
The Council also discussed the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative, which had drawn criticism from several stakeholders in recent months.
Infantino apologised for mistakes in the way the project had been conducted and communicated, reiterating that the proposal had been permanently withdrawn and would not return in any form.
He maintained that the initiative’s original objective was to increase investment in football and improve the distribution of funds, subject to approval by the FIFA Council and Member Associations.
Externally appointed legal advisers briefed the Council on the legal background of the project. However, details remain confidential because of ongoing legal proceedings in the United States.
Infantino said the discussions had provided Council members with an opportunity to raise questions and express their views on the controversial proposal.
Governance reforms and Peace Prize under review:
In a further step towards institutional review, the FIFA Council agreed to establish a working group comprising representatives from across the confederations to examine FIFA’s governance framework in detail.
The Council also tasked FIFA’s Football Social Responsibility Committee with reviewing the FIFA Peace Prize, with a decision expected at the next Council meeting in December 2026.
Disciplinary procedures to be reviewed:
FIFA’s disciplinary framework will also come under scrutiny following the decision to suspend, for a probationary period of one year, the one-match ban imposed on United States forward Folarin Balogun after his sending-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The decision was taken by FIFA’s independent Disciplinary Committee.
Following the ruling, the Council agreed that FIFA’s Legal Committee would review the organisation’s disciplinary procedures and present its findings at the December 2026 meeting.
With a proposed USD 6.35 billion investment package, a commitment to stronger governance and reviews of contentious policies, FIFA’s latest Council meeting placed financial accountability, institutional unity and the long-term development of football at the centre of its agenda.
