FIFA: 2.5 billion euros poured into global and African football development
FIFA says it has reinvested 2.8 billion dollars in football development, a sum multiplied by seven in six years.
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1600 projects, nearly a third of them involving football infrastructure, 208 competitions created, 300,000 men and women directly reached and involved in the projects, and above all close to 2.8 billion dollars (2.5 billion euros) allocated over the period from 2016 to 2022: those are the figures put forward by FIFA in its report on global football development. Through its Forward programme, the world governing body has supported its 211 member associations in their aim to "enable everyone to play football, everywhere in the world".
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"We committed to putting football's revenues at the service of developing our sport all over the world, for girls and boys, women and men. We have kept our word", president Gianno Infantino said. "These investments are as much our responsibility as an obligation. And FIFA Forward gives us the ideal structure – transparent and efficient – to fulfil that mission. The result: investment multiplied by seven since 2016, while FIFA's revenues have not even doubled over the same period. It shows that, as well as being managed properly, the funds are used in a targeted way and with a high degree of oversight, so as to serve the development of football in a lasting way", he said, welcoming the figures.
In short, it is a form of redistribution into football development from the income generated by its global competitions. These have reached record revenue of 7.6 billion dollars (6.9 billion euros) between 2019 and 2022.
144 projects funded in the CAF zone
In the Africa zone, the main area for which these funds were allocated to federations is the construction, renovation or improvement of infrastructure. Almost 118.7 million dollars were invested in this. As hosts of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Ivory Coast, for example, received almost 6 million dollars (5.2 million euros) over the period between 2016 and 2022. Part of that sum was used to organise competitions (1.9 million euros) and for the complete renovation of the Yopougon stadium (999.6 thousand euros).
Across the continent, 144 projects were carried out and 94 new sites developed. "The growth potential of women's football on the continent has been evident, with more than 10,000 girls and women benefiting from some of the 36 competitions launched", FIFA says. Over the same period, 15,000 people (10,576 men and 4,536 women) have benefited from the 46 skills-development projects undertaken by CAF member associations over the past six years.
Read FIFA's full report and the details for each federation by clicking here.