By Sports Hunter Staff | Based on a FIFA Media release.
JUBA – South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF) could receive significantly increased development funding after FIFA unveiled plans to invest more than USD 10 billion in football worldwide through an expanded FIFA Forward Programme.
The proposal, which is subject to approval by FIFA's 211 Member Associations and the FIFA Council, would see annual football development funding increase substantially while introducing a new financing mechanism for major infrastructure projects.
If endorsed, every FIFA Member Association, including South Sudan, would receive USD 20 million in FIFA Forward funding during the 2027–2030 cycle, up from the current USD 8 million.
Funding would then rise to USD 22 million for the 2031–2034 cycle and USD 24 million between 2035 and 2038.
In addition, Member Associations would have the option of applying for up to USD 20 million in exceptional funding through the proposed FIFA Fast Forward Programme (FFFP) to finance projects such as stadiums, national training centres and other football infrastructure.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the initiative is intended to ensure football's commercial success translates into greater investment across all regions of the world.
"Football is the world's most popular sport and an extraordinary engine of human and social development. Our job is to make sure the rest of football grows with it. FIFA exists to support sustainable, inclusive development in every corner of the world," Infantino said.
He added that the governing body wants every Member Association to have a greater opportunity to shape its own future.
"Every FIFA Member Association should have an opportunity to seek a fair share of the available funding to shape its own future, deciding for itself rather than relying on others. This is about the democratisation of football worldwide."
The proposal includes the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a FIFA-owned subsidiary that would manage the organisation's commercial rights and tournament operations. FIFA plans to raise up to USD 4.2 billion by offering minority, non-controlling stakes in the entity to carefully selected long-term investors.
FIFA emphasised that it would retain exclusive control over football governance, competitions, the international match calendar and all sporting and regulatory decisions, while any profits generated by the new structure would be reinvested into football development programmes.
For South Sudan, the proposed increase could provide additional resources to strengthen football infrastructure, coaching education, grassroots programmes, youth competitions, women's football and national team development.
The proposal will now be presented to FIFA's Member Associations and the FIFA Council for consideration. If approved, it would become the largest football development funding initiative in the history of the global game.
