LAHORE (Sports Desk): FIFA, the world governing body of football, has drawn up a plan to invest $6.35 billion in promoting the sport worldwide. Under the proposal, funding of up to $25 million per country could be provided to all 211 member associations, including Pakistan.
Following the record commercial success of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the organization has decided to increase financial support for football development. Under the proposed plan, funding for the development of the sport will more than double for the 2027–2030 period.
Final approval of the plan is subject to the FIFA Congress in March 2027, while the FIFA Council will finalize its details during a meeting scheduled for December 2026.
The proposed allocation of funds will prioritize the promotion of women's and youth football, as well as improvements to sports infrastructure. The plan also proposes maintaining reserves of $1.7 billion to deal with emergency situations.
Meanwhile, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has apologized for mistakes made under the controversial “FIFA Forward Enterprise” project. He said the initiative had been permanently discontinued and would not be reintroduced under any circumstances.
According to Infantino, FIFA's funds belong to its 211 member associations. He said the organization planned to increase funding for each member association from $1 million to $25 million over the past decade. He reaffirmed his commitment to making football accessible to everyone, everywhere.
The FIFA president further stated that the FIFA Council had decided to establish a working group to examine possible reforms to the organization's governance. The relevant committee has also been tasked with reviewing the FIFA Peace Prize, with a final decision expected at the Council meeting in December.
The FIFA Council has also decided to review the procedures governing disciplinary action against players. This development follows the conditional postponement of a one-match suspension imposed on American footballer Folarin Balogun.
FIFA's Legal Committee will present its report on disciplinary procedures at the Council meeting scheduled for December.