Bangladesh could receive an additional US$10 million for football development under a proposal calling for FIFA to distribute more than US$2 billion from its reserves to member associations without selling any part of the commercial rights to the World Cup.
The proposal has been put forward by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf). UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin and Concacaf president Victor Montagliani have jointly written to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, urging the world governing body to release additional funding to support football development across its membership.
Under the proposed arrangement, each of FIFA’s 211 member associations would receive US$10 million. The six continental confederations would each be allocated US$36 million, while regional organisations would receive US$3 million apiece.
UEFA and Concacaf argue that FIFA can finance the proposed distribution from its existing reserves rather than seeking private investment through the sale of commercial rights. According to their calculations, FIFA would still retain US$2.6 billion in cash reserves after the proposed payments had been made.
For Bangladesh, the prospect of an additional US$10 million could provide a significant opportunity to support the development of football at different levels. Depending on the eventual funding arrangements and spending plans, such assistance could help strengthen grassroots programmes, improve training facilities and expand opportunities for young players. However, the proposed allocation has not yet been approved, and Bangladesh cannot be certain of receiving the money until FIFA makes a formal decision.
The dispute also centres on FIFA’s proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative, which envisages raising funds by selling a 20 per cent stake in the commercial rights to the World Cup and other FIFA competitions.
Čeferin and Montagliani have objected to that approach, arguing that FIFA should use its existing financial resources to support member associations rather than relinquish part of the commercial rights to its major tournaments. Their intervention has added pressure on Infantino to justify the proposed strategy and clarify how additional development funding should be financed.
The two confederation leaders have also criticised the process through which the initiative was developed, arguing that FIFA Council members were not properly consulted before the plan was advanced. Their position is that member associations should be able to receive greater financial support without the governing body having to sell a stake in the commercial value of the World Cup.
Infantino has expressed interest in discussing additional payments to member associations. However, the proposed funding has reportedly been linked to support for his commercial rights initiative, creating a disagreement over the conditions under which the money should be distributed.
The issue is expected to feature at the FIFA Council meeting scheduled for 15 October, when the proposed allocations and FIFA’s financial position are due to be discussed. The meeting could provide greater clarity on whether the governing body will approve additional payments and how any distribution would be structured.
No final decision has been announced on the amount to be released or the terms governing the payments. The outcome will be significant for Bangladesh and other member associations seeking financial support to develop the game, particularly those looking to expand participation and strengthen their football infrastructure.
For now, the additional US$10 million remains a proposal rather than a confirmed payment. Bangladesh’s prospects will depend on the decision taken by FIFA and the final terms of any funding arrangement.
