PURPOSE: To expedite dispersion of atomization of injection fuel by varying a switching load in response to fuel pressure in an accumulation chamber, in an internal combustion engine in which a fuel injection timing is changed in response to an engine load whose magnitude varies in response to the switching load, and the mixture is fired by an ignition plug.

CONSTITUTION: A fuel pressure detection means 204 which detects fuel pressure in an accumulation chamber 202 which supplies high-pressure fuel to a fuel injection valve 200 is provided in a gasoline engine in which the fuel injection at the last half of a compression stroke is carried out so as to stratify air fuel mixture in a combustion chamber when the engine load is smaller than a switching load, and to ignite and burn it, and the fuel supply is carried out in an intake stroke when it is larger than the switching load and the fuel injection is carried out at the last half of the compression stroke. A fuel supply means 206 is controlled by a fuel pressure control means 208 so that a real fuel pressure becomes a target fuel pressure which is set in response to an engine operational condition. In this case, the switching load is decreased as the fuel pressure in the accumulation chamber 202 is lowered in response to the target fuel pressure by a switching load variation means 210.