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FIFA RESERVES SOAR TO $2.7B, REVENUE AT $6.4B
FIFA’s cash reserves soared to a record $2.74 billion and revenue climbed to $6.4 billion in the four-year period covering the 2018 World Cup, The Associated Press has learned.
The robust financial results suggest FIFA has weathered the deepest crisis in its history, which erupted in 2015 when a United States-led criminal investigation led to the arrests and later convictions of high-ranking officials on corruption charges.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter also was deposed as FIFA president in a financial misconduct case that left the governing body’s reputation in tatters and caused a backlash from sponsors.
After being elected as Blatter’s successor in 2016, Gianni Infantino said that “FIFA was clinically dead as an organization.”
Although Infantino’s leadership has come under criticism from within European governing body UEFA, Infantino will be able to show the budget is in a healthy state, and he is due to be re-elected unopposed in June for a four-year term.
The 2015-18 finances obtained by the AP exceed the forecasts presented to the FIFA Congress last June. While FIFA projected cash reserves to increase to $1.653 billion in the 2018 World Cup cycle, they had grown to $2.74 billion at the end of 2018, according to people with knowledge of the finances.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the financial results remain confidential.
FIFA’s reserves at the end of the 2014 World Cup cycle were $1.523 billion after generating $5.718 billion after the tournament in Brazil.
Amid of corruption crisis of 2015, FIFA modestly targeted raising $5 billion by the end of the Russia World Cup, a projection later raised to $6.1 billion. Those expectations were eclipsed when the four-year cycle ended with revenues of $6.4 billion, according to the people with knowledge of the financial report, which shows profit of around $1 billion.
The record revenue was achieved despite FIFA not filling its full slate of sponsors for the 2018 World Cup. Several sponsors did not renew after the 2014 tournament in Brazil.
Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, an opponent of Infantino in the 2016 vote, had warned Infantino’s plan to increase payouts to member associations would “bankrupt” FIFA, but that has not transpired.
In the 2011-14 World Cup cycle, FIFA’s accounts showed just over $1 billion was spent overall on development projects with $538 million going to the Financial Assistance Programme for national associations and confederations.
In the 2015-18 cycle, investment dedicated to FIFA’s new Forward development program was $1.079 billion of which $832 million had been approved and committed to member associations, confederations or regions by the end of last year, according to a financial document seen by the AP. Between May 2016 and December 2018, 941 specific projects were funded in 179 of the 211 member associations at a cost of $270.3 million. There are a range of handouts: from $30,769 to train female football administrators in South Africa to $2.25 million on youth development in Peru.
FIFA proclaims it has far more rigorous system of financial controls designed to guard against further corruption scandals. FIFA rejected 201 of the 1,978 funding applications received in the four-year cycle.
FIFA is also trying to secure backing to expand the Club World Cup and develop a Global Nations League, a mini-World Cup for national teams, to further boost revenue. But Infantino’s hopes of obtaining $25 billion in guaranteed finances from backers, including Japan’s SoftBank, have stalled over European opposition to the formats and funding.
Even without that additional income, FIFA said in its financial report that the success of the 2018 World Cup has provided “strong financial resources” to enable it to raise Forward funds by $667 million to $1.746 billion in the 2019-22 cycle.
Each member association can apply for up to $6 million over the 2019-22 cycle, while each of the six confederations receives $48 million. In addition, $62 million is available for zonal or regional associations if they organize at least five youth and women’s competitions per year.
News of the soaring FIFA reserves comes amid ongoing questions about the lack of parity for World Cup prize money between the men’s and women’s tournaments.
France earned $38 million from FIFA for winning the men’s World Cup last July but the women’s champion this July will earn $4 million. That is double the amount collected by the U.S. Soccer Federation in 2015, a rise in line with the overall prize money jumping to $30 million. The fund for the World Cup in Russia rose 12 percent to $400 million and that jumps to $440 million for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
FIFA has acknowledged concerns of female players about the financial disparities while pointing to funding to grow the women’s game.
“The vast majority of women’s football players across the world are still amateur,” Sarai Bareman, FIFA’s chief women’s football officer, said when the prize money for France was agreed last year. “That’s the most important thing for us. If we want to build the whole ecosystem of the women’s game it has to start there.”
Infantino is costing FIFA less than his predecessor.
Infantino last year earned a salary of $1.9 million and a bonus of $550,000, according to one of the people with knowledge of the finances. Infantino earned $1.61 million in 2017 without a bonus.
Blatter’s basic salary of $3 million in 2015 was topped up by an $11 million contractual bonus for the 2010 World Cup and $12 million for the 2014 edition. His contract included a $12 million performance bonus he would have earned had he completed a 2015-19 presidential term.
The star match of the President Federation Cup Round of 16 is the potentially epic confrontation of Enugu Rangers and Bendel Insurance.
The history of the Nigerian National Cup is littered with the epic duels of the two who have three times contested the final matches in 1978, 1981 and recently in 2023.
They clash again four steps before the final match. The two teams were involved in two of the most memorable final matches of Nigeria’s Cup competition in its 80-year history, with honours shared in 1978 and 1981.
The Benin Arsenal tore apart the form books to shock the nation’s football fraternity by spanking Rangers 3-0 in the final in Lagos in 1978, but the Flying Antelopes somewhat repaid the compliment with a 2-0 win at the same venue in 1981.
The setting for this Round of 16 clash is also in Lagos, though a different venue. But fireworks are expected by the waterfront from two teams aspiring for continental football.
Two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC, who eliminated Cup holders El-Kanemi Warriors in the Round of 32, will take on Abakaliki FC at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
Nasarawa United and Bayelsa United will square up to each other in the university town of Anyigba, while Warri Wolves and Wikki Tourists battle things out in the Federal Capital, Abuja.
Two great entertainers, Ikorodu City and Beyond Limits will be at each other’s jugular at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, where Solution FC will tango with Kwara United in an earlier game. Plateau United will confront Osun United in Anyigba.
Akwa United and Inter Lagos are at loggerheads in Abuja.
Round of 16 fixtures (Men) on Wednesday
- Enyimba FC (Abia) Vs Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) – Asaba – 4pm
- Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) – Anyigba 10am
- Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) – Area 3 Abuja – 1 pm
- Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Beyond Limits (Ogun) – Benin City – 4 pm
- Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Inter Lagos (Lagos) – Area 3 Abuja – 4 pm
- Solution FC (Anambra) Vs Kwara United (Kwara) – Benin City – – 10 am
- Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Osun United (Osun) – Anyigba – 1 pm
- Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Rangers Int’l (Enugu) – MJA Lagos – 4 pm
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The Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca, which underwent a significant renovation, reopened on Saturday as Wydad and Raja played to a 1-1 draw during the 26th matchday of the Botola Pro D1 “Inwi” football league.
The stadium is one of the designated venues for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations holding in December.
The redevelopment project of the iconic stadium in Morocco’s economic capital is part of the broader program to upgrade sports venues in preparation for upcoming major sporting events, notably the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Launched in March 2024 and completed in March 2025, the works included, according to the National Agency for Public Facilities (ANEP), the replacement of 45,000 seats in this temple of Moroccan football, the upgrading of the press stand, sound system, video surveillance, and access control systems.
The renovations also covered the development of four changing rooms and warm-up areas, the creation of a mixed zone and a new central players’ tunnel, the replacement of the turf with the latest-generation hybrid grass, refurbishment of the athletics track, lighting upgrades, and replacement of the advertising screens.
Additionally, the project involved the construction of a regulation building to manage and fully separate different access flows, the development of a new ramp for team buses, VIP and VVIP parking areas, and the TV compound.
The works also included the renovation of VIP and media lounges, the construction of a new press conference room, the creation of private boxes, the upgrading of restrooms, food and beverage areas, and public infirmaries, as well as an increase in the number of gates and access control points.
Outside the stadium, the renovations focused on the refurbishment of sidewalks and green spaces, upgrading of exterior lighting, renovation of the surrounding fence, and refurbishment of the annex area.
Officially inaugurated in 1955, the Mohammed V Sports Complex has hosted the greatest sporting events and tournaments in the Kingdom. Morocco, a true land of sports and athletes, is increasingly positioning itself as a leader in the sports sector—not only in Africa but also on the global stage.
Indeed, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco is pursuing an ambitious policy of developing its sports infrastructure in preparation for hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
This proactive strategy aims to meet the international standards required by FIFA and CAF, while strengthening Morocco’s position as a continental, regional, and global sports hub.
In this regard, Morocco continues to invest heavily in its sports infrastructure to host large-scale international events such as the AFCON and the 2030 World Cup.
Ongoing projects include the construction of the Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane, the reconstruction of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, and the expansion and upgrading of the Grand Stade of Tangier in accordance with FIFA’s specifications.
The rehabilitation of the main stadiums in Fez, Marrakech, and Agadir is also underway, initially to meet CAF standards, followed by a second phase aimed at aligning with FIFA’s requirements. Studies for this second phase are already complete, with work scheduled to begin right after AFCON 2025.
Finally, ongoing efforts also include the reconstruction of the Al Barid Stadium and the Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
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The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will feature 351 medal events —22 more than at Paris 2024— the International Olympic Committee Executive Board confirmed this week in a press conference in Lausanne.
The Executive Board has approved the event programme and athlete quotas for the LA Games, with gender equality in mind. For the first time, all team sports will have at least the same number of women’s teams as men’s teams. The LA28 programme also added 698 quotas for the five sports proposed by the LA28 Organising Committee (baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash), in addition to the core athlete quota of 10,500.
“We are opening the door for more athletes to compete, win, and live out their Olympic dream at the LA28 Games where athletes have always been, and always will be, the heart of the Games.
“We are proud to champion an athlete-centric vision that celebrates excellence and the unifying spirit of the Olympic Movement,” LA28 Chief Athlete Officer, Janet Evans, said in the organisation’s official press release.
New medal opportunities
In addition to the new sports set to debut at the Los Angeles Games, exciting new podium opportunities will be available for the established sports on the Olympic programme.
Coastal rowing will debut at the Games with the women’s solo, men’s solo and mixed double sculls in Beach Sprints, which will see competitors sprint across the sand, before navigating waves and surf for the top prize.
Also making a splash are swimming’s fast-paced 50m distance swim and water polo. There will be six additional medal opportunities for the fastest swimmers in the world with the women’s and men’s 50-metre competitions in backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. The women’s water polo tournament will expand to 12 teams, matching the men’s —making it gender-equal for the first time at the Games.
Sport climbing also gained two medal opportunities by separating a previously combined event and creating three distinct medal events: speed, boulder and lead. The sport will have a total quota of 76 athletes (38 women and 38 men).
“From the very beginning of our Olympic journey, we have always had the target of three sets of medals for our athletes. Each of our disciplines has its own unique strengths, and now everyone will see these at LA28,” IFSC President Marco Scolaris said in the federation’s press release.
While the medal events will stay the same, basketball 3×3 will also expand to include 12 teams per gender, from eight teams at the previous Olympics. This expansion reflects the sport’s growth over recent years and further highlights the sport’s global appeal and development.
“The additional quota allows more National Federations and players from all around the world to dream that they can make it from the streets to the Olympics. Los Angeles is one of the world’s most iconic basketball cities and has a thriving 3×3 basketball culture. We are very excited to be once again at the heart of a vibrant, urban sport festival atmosphere during the Games,”said FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, according to FIBA’s press release.
Spotlight on women’s sport
Just weeks after boxing was approved for the Olympic programme after its controversial run at the Paris Games, the sport is set to achieve full parity at the next Olympics with an additional weight class added to the women’s competition: resulting in seven weight classes for both the women’s and men’s tournaments.
Women’s football will be showcased in LA28, with a record 16 teams, while adjusting the men’s tournament to 12 teams to maintain the overall tournament size consistent with previous Olympic Games.
“We’ve seen incredible growth in women’s participation in team sport and in popularity and visibility in women’s team sport, with football being an absolute leader in that regard,” The IOC’s Kit McConnell said. “Women’s football and men’s football have been hugely successful in the Olympic Games in terms of ticketing and broadcast audiences, and media coverage around the world. And what better place to increase the number of women’s teams than the USA itself?”
More mixed-teams
Six new mixed-gender team events will be part of the competition in Los Angeles. Compound archery will be at the Olympic Games in the form of a mixed-team event. It joins the five recurve events currently in the programme.
Athletics will feature a mixed 4x100m, becoming the second mixed-gender event in the sport, joining the 4x400m relay. Golf, table tennis and artistic gymnastics will also add a mixed-team event at LA28.
Overall, the LA28 programme will bring together 10,500 Olympians across the 31 sports on the initial sports program, with up to 700 more athletes competing in the five new sports proposed by LA28 and added to the Olympic sports programme by the IOC.
-Inside The Games
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