FIFA has made a successful start to the four-year period 2003-2006. As reported on 20 February, world football’s governing body closed the first year of its new cycle with a net surplus of CHF 141 million and equity amounting to CHF 94 million.

These figures confirm that FIFA remains on a sound financial footing. At its second annual financial media conference, FIFA announced that the results for the first year of the 2003-2006 World Cup cycle had been pleasing from every perspective. The governing body’s first financial statements issued in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) showed a
profit of CHF 141 million on 31 December 2003 as a result of income for the year of CHF 712 million and expenditure of CHF 571 million. The excellent figures can be attributed primarily to FIFA’s success in keeping within the 2003 budget in terms of expenses, while also exceeding expectations in terms of revenue.

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter was delighted that the world governing body had entered its centennial year with such solid financial foundations. ‘Even when assessed in line with the strict controls imposed by IFRS, which FIFA –
as an association and not a listed company – has introduced entirely of its own accord, our finances are healthy in every respect,’ he commented. ‘We
can now celebrate the FIFA Centennial safe in the knowledge that we have built upon our forefathers’ legacy, and done everything in our power to guarantee a successful future.’

Revenue for 2003 totalled CHF 712 million, with CHF 683 million (96%) coming from FIFA competitions, most notably the 2006 FIFA World Cup(tm). Meanwhile, the most significant entries in the expenses column were CHF 297 million (52%) for additional FIFA events and CHF 145 million (25%) for FIFA development programmes.

At the end of 2003, FIFA had equity amounting to CHF 94 million and a cash balance of CHF 341 million. Thanks to the success of 2003, FIFA now anticipates an overall surplus of CHF 186 million for the 2003-2006 World
Cup cycle – a positive amendment to the CHF 170 million result predicted twelve months ago. By the end of 2006, FIFA should also have equity of CHF 350-450 million. Distributed to the 204 member associations at the end of
March and now available on FIFA.com, the FIFA Financial Report contains detailed explanations of all of FIFA’s financial statements, which have been corroborated by auditors KPMG.

To commemorate its 100th anniversary, FIFA also cast an eye back to its early days. The federation’s financial position was first documented in the minutes of the 4th FIFA Congress in 1907, which indicated that revenue for
the year 1906 had totalled CHF 500. In its first twenty years of existence, FIFA averaged annual receipts of around CHF 1,300, which stemmed primarily from membership fees and levies from international matches. By 1970, FIFA’s
income had increased to CHF 1.5 million and, since the early 1980s, it has continued to climb thanks largely to the effective exploitation of the marketing and TV rights to the FIFA World Cup(tm).

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Since 1 January 2004, tel.: +41-43/222 7272 00 – Fax: +41-43/222 7373 02 –
E-Mail: media@fifa.org