At the 47th CAF Ordinary General Assembly in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, FIFA President Gianni Infantino revealed that more than one billion US dollars has been directed into African football through the FIFA Forward Programme since its launch in 2016.
Infantino highlighted football’s wider role beyond the pitch, stressing its power to inspire hope and dreams for children across Africa.
Addressing representatives from all 54 African member associations, he underlined FIFA’s commitment to ensuring that investment translates into opportunities for players, clubs, and communities.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe expressed gratitude to FIFA for staging the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which gave four African clubs—Al Ahly, Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Wydad AC—the chance to compete against some of the world’s strongest teams.
Infantino noted that players from 19 African nations featured in the tournament, including nine countries that have never appeared at a FIFA World Cup, such as Burkina Faso, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Congo.
The FIFA Forward Programme was designed to support all 211 member associations by funding infrastructure, competitions, and operational needs. Between 2016 and September 2025, investments in CAF, regional bodies, and the 54 African associations reached 1.06 billion dollars.
Projections suggest that by the end of the current cycle in 2026, the figure will rise to 1.28 billion, with 1.08 billion allocated directly to the associations.
FIFA has also expanded competitive opportunities. A record nine, and possibly ten, African teams will feature at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Ten African nations will compete at the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar in 2025, while five will take part in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Looking ahead, Infantino confirmed that FIFA plans to establish between 20 and 30 academies across Africa by 2027 under the Talent Development Scheme, while the Football for Schools initiative is already active in more than 40 countries on the continent.
Motsepe praised the progress, adding that African clubs performed admirably at the Club World Cup and will aim to achieve even more in future editions.
