FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, has expressed support for a significant increase in funding to the world football governing body’s 211 member associations, with the FIFA Council expected to consider additional payments at its October 15 meeting.
Infantino disclosed this in a letter sent on Monday to the presidents of FIFA’s six continental confederations, seen by Agence France-Presse.
The FIFA president said he would support “the greatest level of additional funding that can responsibly be delivered”, while stressing that no amount currently being discussed had been formally approved.
He explained that the recently withdrawn proposal to sell part of the commercial rights to the World Cup was designed to raise additional funds for football.
“The recent commercial proposal, now withdrawn, was intended to enable FIFA to invest more in football,” Infantino wrote.
The development followed calls by two of Infantino’s critics, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, for FIFA’s member associations to each receive $10m over the 2027–2030 period.
Infantino responded by indicating that he would support any higher funding proposal that could be responsibly approved through FIFA’s governance structure.
“I will support the greatest level of additional funding that can responsibly be delivered through FIFA’s proper governance process,” he said.
FIFA confirmed earlier in September that Infantino would seek another term as president in an election scheduled for March, despite criticism of his abandoned plan to bring private investment into the men’s and women’s World Cups.
Infantino has also received backing from Saudi Arabia, which will host the 2034 World Cup, while the Confederation of African Football and South American football governing body CONMEBOL have also expressed support for his candidacy.
