FIFA has proposed giving each of its 211 member associations USD 25 million for 2027 to 2030, which would include the Football Association of Maldives (FAM). It is a proposal, not money already paid. The final vote is at the 77th FIFA Congress in March 2027.
What FIFA proposed
The plan is called the FIFA Surplus Solidarity Programme. FIFA announced it after its Council meeting on 15 October 2026. FIFA said it would more than double planned development funding for 2027 to 2030, to a total of USD 6.35 billion. That money covers member associations, confederations and other stakeholders.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said FIFA has gone from USD 1 million per member association to USD 25 million each.
Where the money comes from
The programme would be paid from FIFA's surplus for the 2023 to 2026 cycle.
FIFA forecasts that surplus at USD 5.2 billion to USD 5.6 billion. The figure is unaudited.
FIFA would keep USD 1.7 billion as hard reserves for unforeseen events.
What USD 25 million means for FAM
At the official rate of about MVR 15.42 per US dollar, USD 25 million is about MVR 385 million. Spread over four years, that is about USD 6.25 million a year. These are our own conversions and are approximate.
FIFA said the terms of distribution will be aligned with the development of women's and youth football. It has not yet published the detailed rules for how each association may spend its share.
What happens next
FIFA committees finalise the rules on eligibility, application, approval, disbursement, control and audit.
The FIFA Council considers the plan at its next meeting in December 2026.
The plan would then be included in FIFA's Annual Report 2026.
The 77th FIFA Congress is asked to approve it in March 2027.
Until Congress approves the plan, the amount is not guaranteed.