The Saudi Development Fund (SFD) will provide up to $1 billion in concessional loans to build or improve football infrastructure in developing countries, under a Memorandum of Understanding with FIFA announced on Monday.
The initiative aims to promote sustainable development through investments in sports facilities, with a focus on social inclusion, youth empowerment and economic growth.
“FIFA’s role is to develop football worldwide, and many of our FIFA member associations need additional support for the infrastructure needed to organize competitions,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.
“This agreement is a crucial step in ensuring that our FIFA member associations have the facilities to make football truly global.”
READ | FIFA receives formal complaint over failure of human rights monitoring in Saudi Arabia, host of 2034 World Cup
Saudi Arabia has invested billions of dollars in sporting events including football, Formula 1, boxing and golf, with critics accusing the country of engaging in ‘sportswashing’ due to its human rights record.
The kingdom has denied allegations of human rights abuses.
The SFD provides concessional loans and technical assistance to finance projects in developing countries.
Published on November 25, 2025
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