MBABANE — The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) could receive a massive financial boost from FIFA’s record World Cup revenues.
In official correspondence obtained by ESPN, FIFA President Gianni Infantino responded to a joint proposal from Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) advocating for direct allocations to member bodies. Under the proposed model, all 211 member associations that include the EFA could receive a minimum payout of US$10 million (approximately E163 million) spread across the 2027–2030 cycle.
The push from UEFA Chief Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF Head Victor Montagliani came on the heels of intense debate within global football governance. The two leaders had previously demanded Infantino’s resignation after he explored selling a 20 per cent stake in the World Cup to private investors led by Joshua Kushner, a move that would have yielded USS$20 million (approximately E328 million) per member association.
As per the fresh reports, Infantino has now signalled broad agreement with the principle of sharing the financial success of the World Cup, reiterating his long-standing stance that ‘FIFA’s money is your money’. However, he stopped short of confirming fixed figures.
In his letter addressed to the heads of all six continental confederations including Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe, Infantino emphasised that formal allocations must undergo rigorous governance and financial review.
“A single figure can begin the discussion, but it cannot complete a global policy,” Infantino noted in the ESPN report, adding that he has tasked the Secretary General with consolidating all proposals for the upcoming FIFA Council meeting on October 15.
While Infantino cautioned that no figure can be treated as a binding commitment until approved, a potential influx of roughly E164 million would mark a transformative moment for the EFA, offering crucial resources to advance local football infrastructure, development programmes and structural operations in Eswatini.
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