Gianni Infantino Accepts Calls for Larger Payouts from Reserves

Fifa president Gianni Infantino was poised to bow to demands from Uefa and Concacaf to distribute more money from its $6bn cash reserves to member associations. In a letter sent on Monday to all six confederation presidents and copied to members of the Fifa council, Infantino indicated his willingness to "support the greatest level of additional funding,” without committing to the $10m-per-member that has been proposed.

Infantino's response followed a joint letter sent by Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and Concacaf president Victor Montagliani earlier this month. They called for an additional payout for all of Fifa's 211 members of at least $10m during the 2027-2030 commercial cycle. This demand was subsequently endorsed in a separate letter from Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa.

Infantino confirmed that he would consider the presidents’ proposals during the Fifa council's next meeting on 15 October, after Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafström consolidates the suggestions. Under the proposed terms of Infantino’s abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme, member associations would have received an additional $20m during the next four-year cycle, plus a further payment of $20m had they signed up before a 53-day deadline that expired last week.

“I will not prejudge the amount,” Infantino wrote in the letter. “I will support the greatest level of additional funding that can responsibly be delivered through Fifa’s proper governance process, applied fairly and supported by transparent and auditable arrangements. The ambition is welcome. The financial evidence, governance, and implementation must now support it.”

Infantino continued, “A single figure can begin the discussion, but it cannot complete a global policy. I have therefore instructed the Secretary General to consolidate all submissions into one integrated assessment for consideration by the Fifa council on 15 October 2026.”

He also defended his role in the FFE scheme, stating, “The recent commercial proposal, now withdrawn, was intended to enable Fifa to invest more in football – not to replace support that could responsibly be provided from existing resources.”

“I welcome the constructive intent reflected in each of your letters. We may differ on the best route forward, but I have no doubt that each of us wants what is best for Fifa, its member associations, and football.”