Brazil proposes Federal University of Sport funding from betting tax
The Government of Brazil presented to Congress a bill to create the Federal University of Sport, a new public institution that will be partially funded with resources from the collection of esports betting and virtual games, allocated to the Ministry of Sport. The funding will also include traditional budget allocations, agreements, and resources generated by services provided by the university itself.
According to the text sent to the Legislature, the university is part of the legacy of the 2027 Women's Football World Cup, which Brazil is preparing to host.
An assessment of women's football and inequalities in sport
The project highlights that Brazilian women's football remains largely amateur. Only 19.2 percent of the players have professional contracts and barely 1.2 percent have a training agreement.
The document also points out the strong male participation in the discipline: 45 percent of those working in women's football are men.
The proposal also mentions cases of structural discrimination and presents statistics that reveal the severity of the problem: 41 percent of Black workers and 31 percent of Indigenous workers report having been victims of racism in the performance of their duties.
Racial gap in technical and leadership positions
The analysis presented by the Government also exposes disparities in holding command positions. Although 57 percent of elite Brazilian football players are Black or mixed race, in 2023 there was no Black coach in Serie A and only 17 percent of assistant coaches belonged to that group.
These data support the creation of a federal institution dedicated to professional training in sport, aiming to expand opportunities, reduce inequalities, and diversify presence in technical, academic, and management areas.
A university based in Brasilia with gradual expansion
The new Federal University of Sport will be based in Brasilia and is expected to start its activities in 2027. In the first phase, it will offer five undergraduate courses and five lato sensu postgraduate programs.
The plan foresees a progressive expansion to reach eleven undergraduate degrees within four years, with an estimated capacity for 3,000 students, which will increase the supply of higher education focused on sport in the country.
Funding and spending limits
The Government states that the proposal will not generate an immediate increase in personnel expenses and that its implementation will depend on the availability of resources within the General Budget of the Union. The revenue from regulated betting will function as a complementary source, allowing the new university to be structured without compromising fiscal balance.
Tags: Brazil, Federal University of Sport, Brazil online gaming taxes, UFESPORTE