CAF to convene executive meeting as FIFA seeks feedback on Forward Enterprise plan

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will bring its executive committee together next week to consider FIFA’s new FIFA Forward Enterprise project, after world football’s governing body began formally consulting its member associations.

FIFA has written to CAF outlining the initiative, which includes a proposal to open up the organisation of the World Cup to private investors. The consultation process with all member associations began only hours after FIFA publicly revealed the outlines of the plan.

CAF confirmed receipt of FIFA’s correspondence and said its top decision-making body would meet in the coming days “in order, among other things, to assess the proposed initiative”.

In a statement on its official website, CAF said it wanted its response to be coordinated at both confederation and national-association level, and urged all members to engage with the process.

“CAF also encourages its member associations to review the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal and to participate in the consultation process in accordance with the regulations and procedures established by CAF and FIFA,” the statement read.

The African body added that it was ready to cooperate with FIFA on the project, stressing its willingness to explore ideas that could increase the financial and logistical support available to the game.

CAF said it remained open to working with FIFA “to increase the financial and other resources needed for the development and growth of football in Africa and around the world.”

The executive committee meeting is expected to shape CAF’s official position on FIFA Forward Enterprise before the confederation feeds back into the global consultation. No date or venue for the meeting has yet been disclosed publicly, beyond the indication that it will take place next week.

FIFA Forward Enterprise forms part of FIFA’s wider efforts to reform how global football development is financed and managed, with a particular emphasis on long-term investment structures. By seeking input from all confederations, FIFA aims to gauge the level of support and identify any concerns before moving ahead.

CAF’s intervention underlines the importance of Africa’s collective stance in those discussions, given the continent’s 54 member associations and its growing influence within world football governance.

The outcome of the CAF executive committee’s deliberations, and the feedback from its national associations, will help determine how the confederation positions itself as FIFA refines its plans for the future of World Cup organisation and broader development funding.