FIFA: Gianni Infantino announces $1.28 billion investment in African football by 2026
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has revealed that nearly US$1.28 billion will be invested in African football by 2026 through the FIFA Forward development programme.
The announcement came during the 47th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Addressing representatives of Africa’s 54 member associations, Infantino said the initiative forms part of FIFA’s long-term vision to use football as a tool for empowerment and development across the continent.
He highlighted the importance of providing African children with the opportunity to dream and build their futures through the sport.
Football gives children a reason to dream and believe in their future, Infantino said, underlining the transformative power of the game.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe expressed his gratitude to FIFA for organising the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which featured four African clubs — Al Ahly FC, Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns FC, and Wydad AC — competing against some of the world’s top sides.
Infantino noted that players from 19 African nations took part in the global tournament, including nine countries that had never previously appeared in a FIFA World Cup: Burkina Faso, Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Uganda, and Tanzania.
This event was a huge success, with four African teams participating,” said Infantino. But what seems even more significant to me is that many African countries were represented among the 32 clubs from five continents.
Since its inception in 2016, the FIFA Forward programme has aimed to strengthen global football development through funding infrastructure, competitions, and operations for its 211 member associations and regional confederations.
Between 2016 and September 2025, Africa alone received US$1.06 billion under this initiative.
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By 2026, the total investment on the continent is projected to reach US$1.28 billion, with US$1.08 billion allocated directly to African member associations.
The FIFA President also emphasised the organisation’s efforts to increase competitive opportunities for African nations.
A record nine countries from the continent have already secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with a tenth still in contention through the play-offs Additionally, ten African teams will compete in the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, while five women’s teams will take part in the U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Motsepe praised the progress made, saying: The Club World Cup was a key moment for us, and we sincerely thank FIFA for organising it. The four African clubs involved represented our continent with pride, and I am confident they will do even better in the next edition.
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Infantino also announced plans to establish 20 to 30 FIFA Academies across Africa by 2027.
This initiative will complement the Football for Schools programme, which is already active in over 40 African countries, aiming to nurture young talent and improve infrastructure.
We would all like to become legends like Samuel Eto’o, Emmanuel Adebayor, El Hadji Diouf, or Kalusha Bwalya, Infantino said. “Not everyone has the talent to reach such heights, but we all have a duty to give every child in Africa the chance to dream, to hope, and to succeed.
Concluding his address, the FIFA President called for unity among African nations.
I ask you, once again, to be united, to unite Africa and to unite African football. It is through this union that we will make our voice heard on the global stage and build a brighter future for our continent.
