From gravel to grass: FIFA’s record investments empower emerging football nations

From gravel to grass: FIFA’s record investments empower emerging football nations Through significantly increased funding and expanded tournament access, developing football markets like Mauritania, Bangladesh, and Bhutan are building sustainable, long-term sporting structures. For many emerging football nations, FIFA represents the primary, if not sole, reliable source of footballing income. Recent financial data and policy shifts indicate a concentrated effort by the governing body to build sustainable structures in these markets, focusing on a triad of financial support, talent development, and expanded tournament access. The financial progression is clear. Under the FIFA Forward programme, funding for each Member Association has grown from around $1 million (before 2016) over $3.8 million (2016-2018 cycle) to $8 million in the current 2023-2026 cycle. A new proposal currently on the table for the 2027-2030 cycle aims to grant associations a total of $25 million each. Ahmed Yahya, President of the Mauritanian Football Federation, noted the practical impact of these numbers following a recent FIFA Council meeting. “These financial resources can enable young people today to play football on grass pitches rather than on stony or gravel-covered pitches, and that is precisely what matters,” Yahya explained. He highlighted the fundamental importance of equal funding and voting rights across all nations. “For us, equality is what defines FIFA today. Gianni Infantino is taking football forward worldwide... The majority want [him] to stay.” Crucially, this financial backing is being paired with the FIFA Talent Development Scheme and an expansion of youth tournaments. By helping associations identify and train talent while simultaneously offering more platforms on the global stage, FIFA is attempting to create a structure where football becomes a genuine career path in developing regions. In Bangladesh, this combined strategy is yielding tangible outcomes. Tabith Awal, President of the Bangladesh Football Federation, pointed to recent milestones, including a historic victory over San Marino during a European window and an invitation to the FIFA ASEAN Cup. “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 stated. Awal also highlighted the practical governance style of the current administration, noting that Infantino “continues to show the hands of friendship” even when facing administrative disagreements. A recent brief stopover by the FIFA President in Dhaka allowed local officials to demonstrate exactly how international funds are being allocated on the ground. This strategy of global visibility extends to Bhutan, which recently welcomed a FIFA President on its soil for the first time in history. The visit underscored a broader administrative objective to maintain direct contact with all Member Associations, regardless of size, and allowed local leadership to map out the future. Dasho Ugen Tsechup, President of the Bhutan Football Federation (BFF), utilized the historic visit to outline ambitious upcoming initiatives. “Because of his hectic schedule, [the time] was short. But what we discussed was concise, to the point,” Ugen Tsechup explained. “With the assistance of FIFA, so much more now can be done in Bhutan.” He detailed a comprehensive development plan that includes the Rama academy and school project for men and women, commercial upgrades to existing football infrastructure at Changjiji and GMC, and the construction of a new stadium in Paro. When asked to highlight a single project from the Infantino era that he was most proud of, Ugen Tsechup declined, emphasizing the cumulative effect of consistent support. “I can’t single even one out, because every investment has been an important contribution to the development of football in Bhutan,” he said. “The headquarters, giving us independence... the academy, the infrastructure, the grounds, the mini-pitches, the futsal pitches—each and every aspect of the infrastructure development contributed by FIFA has added an important moment for the Bhutan Football Federation.” This localized investment is having a profound human impact, particularly in the women's game. Pema Choden Tshering, Captain of the Bhutan Women’s National Team, has witnessed the transformation of the sport's baseline firsthand. “I grew up playing in dusty fields. I now get to play on artificial turf, on grass fields as well, through my international match experiences,” Tshering noted. She pointed to the establishment of a girls’ academy in Gelephu—where over 60 girls receive regular, year-round training—as a direct result of improved infrastructure. Tshering also credited the FIFA Forward programme for funding vital match experiences that allow the squad to test themselves internationally. “That has provided a lot of opportunity for the girls to grow, not just as players, but also as a person,” she added. With national team players now securing international contracts, Tshering is optimistic: “I hope this will inspire our future girls as well, and also encourage our parents to allow more girls to play the sport.” While elite European football traditionally dominates the media landscape, the administrative reality for countries like Mauritania, Bangladesh, and Bhutan is that consistent, structured investment is creating a new baseline. By marrying reliable funding with clear talent pathways and grassroots infrastructure, FIFA is establishing the necessary foundation for the global game to grow equitably.