UEFA slams FIFA president’s plan to sell $20 billion stakes in World Cup
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- FIFA President Gianni Infantino is proposing selling stakes in the World Cup, dramatically altering ownership and operation of the world’s most prestigious soccer tournament.
- The plan was immediately attacked by powerful European soccer body UEFA, which argued the World Cup is not FIFA’s to sell.
- UEFA has previously blocked Infantino’s plans to sell stakes in the World Cup, arguing investors could demand more frequent Word Cups that would threaten Champions League and the European Championship.
GENEVA — FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plan to create a $20 billion company running the World Cup with private investors including the Kushner family was announced Tuesday — and immediately attacked by European soccer body UEFA.
“It is not FIFA’s to sell,” UEFA said in a statement. “None of us are the owners of football.”
Infantino’s plans to form a commercial subsidiary, which would be called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), running competitions like the World Cup and Club World Cup was first reported by The Times of London.
FIFA said in a statement FFE would raise up to $4.2 billion later this year to help fund development programs “based on an initial equity valuation of $20 billion by carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests.”
Once a festival of affordable global fandom, the World Cup now is giving FIFA a prime opportunity to reap record profits from soccer fans.
FIFA is working with J.P. Morgan while intended investors include Thrive Eternal launched by Joshua Kushner, whose brother Jared Kushner is a son-in-law of President Donald Trump.
The men’s World Cup that finished this month only deepened the political and personal ties between Trump and Infantino, and fueled concerns about those ties including from UEFA.
“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade — especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially,” UEFA said Tuesday, responding to the reports of selling stakes in FIFA competitions.
FIFA is currently a Swiss-based not-for-profit association of its 211 national member federations worldwide.
Iran is playing at a disadvantage during the 2026 World Cup by having to deal with broken promises from FIFA and the U.S. government.
Those members must approve any plan and would get the chance “to access up to $20 million in one-off capital,” FIFA said.
“This is about the democratization of football worldwide,” Infantino said in a FIFA statement, which added that “a consultation process has begun.”
UEFA, however, said it took reports of the project “extremely seriously. So should every national Football Association.”
“This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross,” said UEFA, which comprises 55 of the FIFA members.
FIFA’s $20M offer to member federations
The outline of Tuesday’s surprise announcement was, FIFA said, detailed by Infantino to members who met in Manhattan on July 18 ahead of the World Cup final. There, Infantino promised to “unleash the commercial potential and opportunity that FIFA has.”
FIFA’s statement Tuesday about its proposed project led on how much money each of its 211 members could get through 2038 in the “FIFA Fast-Forward Program.”
Instead of the currently promised $8 million each in development funds through the 2027-30 World Cup commercial cycle, it would be $20 million, then $22 million and $24 million in the following cycles.
Fox and Telemundo saw strong audience levels topped only by the Super Bowl.
FIFA banked record World Cup income of about $12 billion from the 2026 tournament which had unprecedented high prices for tickets and hospitality across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It already was unclear how that money could be matched from Spain, Portugal and Morocco co-hosting the 2030 men’s edition.
Member federations could choose if they wanted to take part in the new financial opportunities, FIFA said.
“FIFA would retain sole control of FFE and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, match calendar, and all regulatory and sporting decisions,” the soccer body said.
FIFA’s integrity standards were called into question during the World Cup, including by team coaches, Norway’s soccer federation and a top European public body, the Council of Europe.
FIFA’s previous attempt to privatize assets
The project announced Tuesday is the second time in Infantino’s increasingly controversial 11-year presidency he has tried to push through a multi-billion dollar deal with private backers.
In 2018, Infantino proposed a secretive $25 billion offer over 12 years with SoftBank of Japan to create new global competitions, including an expanded men’s Club World Cup, seemingly backed by Saudi Arabian money.
That ultimately failed after meeting fierce resistance from UEFA, which saw threats to its prize assets: the Champions League and the European Championship.
Infantino still built closer ties to Saudi soccer and the kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup and largely funded the revamped men’s Club World Cup hosted in the U.S. last year.
Infantino’s future?
The financial success of the just-ended World Cup has looked likely to ensure Infantino is re-elected next year unopposed for a fourth and final term in office through 2031.
At his re-election by acclaim in 2023 in Rwanda, Infantino suggested any CEO delivering similar financial results would be kept in the job forever.
Speculation has swirled for years Infantino might want a different global role in soccer beyond his FIFA presidency, which is due to end when he is 61.
Spain, Cape Verde, Erling Haaland and many magical moments helped spread World Cup fever, making the ambitious tournament expansion a success despite flaws.
The Times reported Tuesday that a CEO-like commissioner role of the new FFE operation could be created for Infantino.
“This has never been discussed,” FIFA said in a statement Tuesday. “However, the FIFA president and the FIFA administration will and must have leading roles in this entity — if approved.”
There was no timetable suggested Tuesday for debate and decisions by FIFA, its ruling Council chaired by Infantino, and the 211 members.
FIFA is scheduled to hold an online congress on Nov. 23 to confirm hosts of the Women’s World Cup editions in 2031 and 2035.
Dunbar writes for the Associated Press.
