FIFA forward 3.0 providing Member Associations with US$8 Million for Football Development – Infantino

By Emmanuel Sekago

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has revealed that under the FIFA Forward 3.0 programme, every FIFA Member Association receives US$8 million to invest in football development, competitions, infrastructure and other football-related projects.

Infantino made the remarks during the FIFA Executive Football Summits 2026 currently taking place in Miami, United States, where football leaders from across the globe have gathered to exchange ideas, strengthen relationships and discuss the future of the game.

Several Member Associations from the CECAFA region are represented at the summit, including delegates from Burundi, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda.

The Presidents and General Secretaries of the respective associations joined their counterparts from around the world in discussions focused on football development, governance and strategic growth.

The summit is also serving as an important platform to sensitise Member Associations about key FIFA programmes, including the FIFA Forward programme and preparations for the launch of FIFA Forward 4, which is scheduled to commence in January 2027.

Addressing delegates, FIFA President Gianni Infantino highlighted the significant increase in FIFA development funding over the last decade.

“With FIFA Forward 3.0, Member Associations receive US$8 million, around US$2 million every year, to invest in competitions, to invest in infrastructure, and to invest in football-related projects,” Infantino said.

He reflected on how far FIFA’s development support has evolved.

“Ten years ago, those of you who are a little bit older maybe remember the Development Programme that FIFA had was granting every Member Association one million US dollars in four years, meaning US$250,000 per year,” he added.

Infantino emphasized that the increased investment demonstrates FIFA’s commitment to supporting football growth at all levels across the world, particularly in developing football nations.

The FIFA Secretary General, Mattias Grafström, officially opened the plenary session and outlined the summit’s dual purpose.

He noted that while the formal programme focuses on critical topics such as youth development, strategy and football administration, the summit also provides valuable opportunities for informal exchanges and collaboration among football leaders.

Among the initiatives highlighted at the summit was the FIFA Series, a competition designed to create more international playing opportunities for national teams across different confederations.

Infantino cited the FIFA Series as a practical example of how FIFA continues to support Member Associations through increased competitive opportunities.

He noted that the FIFA Series was staged in 12 countries during 2026 across both the men’s and women’s editions.

Within the CECAFA region, Rwanda hosted the men’s FIFA Series while Kenya hosted the women’s edition, providing valuable international exposure for participating nations.

The FIFA Executive Football Summits continue to play a key role in strengthening collaboration between FIFA and its Member Associations as the global football governing body seeks to expand development programmes, improve football infrastructure and enhance opportunities for players, coaches and administrators worldwide.

With the introduction of FIFA Forward 4 on the horizon, Member Associations are expected to benefit from even greater support as FIFA continues its mission of growing the game across every corner of the world.