FIFA is providing a record $8 million in funding to football associations in Mauritania and Bangladesh as part of its 2023-2026 Forward programme cycle, aiming to build sustainable football infrastructure in emerging markets. This marks a significant increase from the $3.8 million allocated during the 2016-2018 period and around $1 million before 2016.
Mauritania’s football president, Ahmed Yahya, outlined the practical benefits of this funding after a recent FIFA Council meeting. He said the money allows young players to train on grass pitches instead of gravel or stony fields. “That is precisely what matters,” Yahya said. He also emphasized the importance of equal funding and voting rights within FIFA. “For us, equality is what defines FIFA today. Gianni Infantino is taking football forward worldwide… The majority want [him] to stay.”
In Bangladesh, the increased funding has been paired with expanded tournament access and talent development schemes. Bangladesh Football Federation President Tabith Awal pointed to a historic win over San Marino during a European international window and the country’s invitation to the FIFA ASEAN Cup as indicators of progress. “We have used a lot of FIFA’s good projects, whether it be the Arena Programme or the Forward Programme, to truly develop a football culture in Bangladesh,” Awal said.
Awal also mentioned FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s personal engagement with local officials during a recent stopover in Dhaka. This visit allowed Bangladeshi football authorities to demonstrate how international funds are being spent on the ground. Awal described Infantino’s approach as one of “hands of friendship,” even amid administrative disagreements.
Bhutan has also benefited from FIFA’s increased attention. The FIFA President’s recent visit to Bhutan was the first in the country’s history and symbolized FIFA’s intent to maintain direct contact with all member associations. Bhutan Football Federation President Dasho Ugen Tsechup outlined plans discussed during the visit, including the Rama academy and school project for both men and women, upgrades to existing facilities at Changjiji and GMC, and the construction of a new stadium in Paro.
Ugen Tsechup declined to single out any one project from the Infantino era as most significant, saying every investment has contributed equally to football’s development in Bhutan. He mentioned infrastructure improvements such as headquarters, academies, mini-pitches, and futsal courts as cumulative gains from FIFA’s support.
Women’s football in Bhutan has seen visible changes. Pema Choden Tshering, captain of the Bhutan women’s national team, described how she grew up playing on dusty fields but now competes on artificial turf and grass pitches thanks to improved facilities funded by FIFA. The establishment of a girls’ academy in Gelephu, where over 60 girls train year-round, is directly linked to this funding.
Tshering credited the FIFA Forward programme for enabling international match experience, allowing players to develop both on and off the pitch. She noted that some national team members have secured international contracts, adding, “I hope this will inspire our future girls as well, and also encourage our parents to allow more girls to play the sport.”
FIFA’s strategy combines increased financial support with talent development and expanded competition access to create pathways for footballers in developing countries to pursue the sport professionally. The current proposal for the 2027-2030 cycle suggests increasing funding to $25 million per association, which if approved, would further accelerate these efforts.
The current cycle’s $8 million funding marks the highest single investment FIFA has made per member association to date. The approach reflects a shift in FIFA policy to prioritize equality and long-term growth in smaller football markets alongside traditional powerhouses.
According to Yahoo Sports.
