The global football governing body, FIFA, has presented a proposed investment plan worth $6.35 billion to develop the sport around the world.
Under the plan, additional funds have been proposed for 211 member countries, including Pakistan.
The proposed plan aims to more than double funding for football development between 2027 and 2030.
Following the record commercial success of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the organisation has planned to increase development funds.
According to FIFA, final approval of the new plan will be subject to the FIFA Congress in March 2027.
Before that, the FIFA Council will finalise the details of the plan at its meeting in December 2026.
Funds for 211 Countries
Under FIFA’s proposed plan, all 211 member countries, including Pakistan, will be able to receive additional financial assistance.
According to the report, a proposal has emerged to provide up to $25 million in funding for each member country.
This amount will be part of the increase in financial resources available for football development. However, the final amount each country will receive and the mechanism for distributing the funds will become clear after approval.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that the organisation’s funds belong to its 211 member countries.
According to him, over the past ten years, a plan has been developed to increase funding per member country from $1 million to $25 million.
Focus on Women and Young People
The proposed funding plan includes a proposal to prioritise women’s and youth football. Alongside this, attention will also be given to the development of sports infrastructure.
The funds are expected to help advance football development projects in different countries.
However, details have not yet emerged about which specific projects in Pakistan will benefit from these resources.
For Pakistan, the plan could create opportunities to develop football infrastructure, train young players and promote women’s football. The practical benefits of these opportunities will depend on the final distribution of funds and the selection of projects.
Proposal to Maintain Emergency Reserves
FIFA has also proposed maintaining reserves of $1.7 billion to deal with emergencies.
The purpose of this measure is to protect the organisation’s financial resources in extraordinary circumstances.
Final decisions on the new development plan and the proposals concerning emergency reserves remain pending before the relevant FIFA forums. The FIFA Council meeting in December 2026 will be an important stage in this process.
Controversial Plan Withdrawn
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has apologised after acknowledging mistakes in the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise project. He announced that the project has been permanently withdrawn.
He said that the controversial project would not be reintroduced in any form. This development comes at a time when FIFA is working on a new proposal to increase development funding.
Review of Governance and Disciplinary Rules
The FIFA Council has decided to establish a working group to review possible reforms in the organisation’s governance. The initiative will examine potential changes to the organisation’s administrative procedures.
The FIFA Council has also referred the matter concerning the FIFA Peace Prize to the relevant committee. A decision on this matter is expected at the December meeting.
In addition, it has been decided to review the procedures for disciplinary action against players. The matter came under consideration after the one-match suspension of American footballer Folarin Balogun was conditionally deferred.
FIFA’s Legal Committee will present a report on disciplinary procedures at the Council meeting scheduled for December.
Further clarification regarding possible changes to these rules will emerge after that.
Overall, FIFA’s proposed plan is an effort to increase financial assistance for football development at the global level.
The benefits for member countries, including Pakistan, will depend on final approval, the distribution of funds and the implementation of development projects.