Infantino threatens Fifa nations with 53-day deadline: Back me or miss out on funding
Infantino threatens Fifa nations with 53-day deadline: Back me or miss out on funding
Tom MorganWed, July 29, 2026 at 11:12 AM UTC
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Fifa president Gianni Infantino has incentivised nations to support his plan - Bradley Collyer/PA
Gianni Infantino, the under-pressure Fifa president, has given members a 53-day deadline to back his plans to sell stakes in the World Cup or face a 75 per cent reduction in potential funding.
In a letter sent to all 211 member associations by the Fifa president, Infantino has promised riches of up to $10bn to be made accessible as early as January 1, 2027, and he also offered access to as much as £30m through his new ‘Fifa Forward Enterprise’ proposal.
However, Infantino has warned any members who oppose his private investment plan will be cut out of the new funding model should it still get waived through by associations. Such a move would create a two-tier funding system across world football and risk completely shifting the balance of financial power within the sport.
Decision time
In the letter, seen by Telegraph Sport, Infantino set associations a deadline of September 19 to decide whether they will agree to his plan to sell between 20 per cent and 30 per cent of Fifa’s commercial rights to private investors.
Infantino wrote: “The decision on whether or not to proceed with this proposal belongs entirely to you.
“Should you wish to proceed, this $10bn (£7.5bn) package will become available as of January 1, 2027, ushering in the next phase of our journey together. In exchange, all that is required is your continued trust – everything else remains the same.
“Should you wish to retain the status quo and reject this proposal, we still have our planned expansion of the Forward programme of $2.7bn (£2.04bn) as previously presented, which will continue to improve and develop our game. We will continue to do great things together.”
Infantino has promised millions in extra revenue with his new plans - Michael Regan/Getty Images
The emergence of Infantino’s proposals, which appears to have progressed without any knowledge by the majority of Fifa’s members, including the Football Association, has triggered a fierce backlash across the globe.
However, Infantino claimed that the vote will be “a fully democratic decision in the hands of the member associations” and will require a majority to pass.
He added: “In keeping with our democratic principles, the implementation of Fifa Forward Enterprise will be entirely conditional on the following two steps:
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1) The support by way of participation of a majority (>50 per cent) of Fifa Member Associations in the process by the deadline stipulated;
2) The express approval by the Fifa Council to enact the requisite adjustments to the Forward Programme.”
‘Pure bribery’
Opponents have reacted with fury to the letter, with one figure telling The Times that it is “pure bribery”.
Infantino’s letter also highlighted the increase in Fifa funding during his time as president since he replaced the disgraced Sepp Blatter in February 2016. Members received around £2.26m each in the 11 years under Blatter before Infantino came to power, with the same period from 2027 offering riches of more than £64m if they back his sell-off plans.
Infantino said: “The proposal, if implemented, would see member associations benefitting from the following resulting increases in Forward funding:
1) Fifa Forward – $20m (£15m) per (member association) for the cycle starting January 1, 2027 allocated equally to all 211 member associations.
“This would continue to increase cycle-on-cycle; $22m for 2031-2034, $24m for 2035-2038, and so forth. It will be financed through guaranteed payments from the increased revenues unlocked via this newly established, commercially focused entity.
2) Fifa Fast-Forward (a new programme) – $20m per (member association) as a singular and unique funding opportunity only for those member associations who wish to participate, with their decision to be made by September 19, 2026 so we can plan ahead and with funds to be available immediately as of January 1, 2027.
“It will be financed by Fifa liquidating a minority portion of its share in Fifa Forward Enterprise to carefully selected long-term external investors without ceding control of any kind.
“In total for the upcoming cycle starting as of January 1, 2027 each member association will have the possibility to access up to $40m per member association under this proposal.
“Over a 12-year, three-cycle period, this would represent cash payments of c. $86m ($40m plus c.$22m plus c.$24m) compared to the $3m received over the same time period before my election. So a very significant increase from $3m per member association to $86m per member association in the same period.”
Source: “AOL Sports”
