FIFA's $20 Billion World Cup Investment Plan Sparks UEFA Backlash Over 'Selling Football'

FIFA Proposes Semi-Private Subsidiary for World Cup Rights

FIFA announced on Tuesday that it plans to sell a stake in the business operations of the World Cup and its other competitions through the creation of a semi-private subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The world football governing body stated it would retain a majority share and maintain sole control over football governance, competitions, the match calendar, and all regulatory and sporting decisions.

The organization hopes to raise $4.2 billion later this year by carefully selecting long-term investors to purchase minority, non-controlling interests. FIFA projected that FFE would achieve an initial equity valuation of $20 billion.

The announcement came as a rapid response to reports published in British newspapers The Times and The Financial Times, which revealed details of the plan based on leaks from two sources.

Potential Investors and Political Connections

According to The Times, discussions have already begun with financial advisors and potential investors. Those reportedly include Thrive Capital, an investment firm founded and led by Joshua Kushner — brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump — as well as an arm of JP Morgan Chase, the U.S. bank that previously attempted to finance the failed breakaway European Super League.

The Times also reported that FIFA president Gianni Infantino, 56, stood to profit from the arrangement by becoming commissioner of FFE after his expected next term expires in 2031. FIFA denied that this possibility had been discussed.

Sepp Blatter, Infantino's disgraced predecessor as FIFA president, drew attention to the American connection. He posted on social media that the close relationship between the FIFA president and the U.S. president had reached a financial dimension deeply damaging to football, adding that no one has the right to sell the game.

UEFA and Critics Condemn the Proposal

UEFA, which has been a frequent critic of Infantino, issued a strongly worded statement condemning the plan. The European governing body described it as crossing a line that football's governing institutions should never cross and said it takes the matter extremely seriously.

UEFA's statement declared that the soul and governance of football are not assets to trade, especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. The organization emphasized that none of football's governing bodies are the owners of the sport, stating: "It is not FIFA's to sell."

British politician Andy Burnham, an Everton fan, also voiced opposition on social media platform X. He wrote that football does not belong to investors but to the people who fill the stands and stand on the touchline week in and week out, rain or shine. He described the World Cup as the greatest competition in world sport and not a product, arguing that once a piece of it is sold, football has been sold out.

An unnamed senior football figure quoted by The Times called the plan "potentially much worse than the European Super League," warning it would have an impact on all levels of football across the globe. Another anonymous source told the newspaper the plan would create "unacceptable" conflicts of interest for FIFA and Infantino.

Financial Structure and Approval Process

FIFA stated that each of its 211 member associations would be offered a one-off stake of $20 million in FFE. While this represents only 0.1 percent of the total valuation, it would constitute a significant sum for the leaderships of FIFA's poorer or smaller members. The organization said that combined with other existing FIFA programs, these investments could bring total planned development funding to more than $10 billion over the next four years.

The plan still requires approval from the 38-member FIFA Council and a majority of member associations. FIFA indicated it intends to present the proposal to the council soon.

Historical Context and Potential Implications

The proposal comes amid growing commercial ambitions at FIFA. In June, ahead of the World Cup, the organization anticipated record revenues exceeding €7 billion ($8 billion) for 2026. The 2026 tournament was the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, and Infantino has confirmed that discussions have taken place about potentially expanding to 64 teams for the 2030 edition.

This is not the first time FIFA has explored private investment in its competitions. In 2019, a FIFA stakeholders' committee rejected an Infantino-backed plan for a $25 billion private investment in an expanded Club World Cup. Reported backers at the time included SoftBank of Japan and Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. FIFA did proceed with expanding the Club World Cup from seven teams to 32 clubs in 2025.

The Times speculated that the creation of FFE could lead to pressure for both the World Cup and the Club World Cup to be further expanded or played more regularly than the current once-every-four-years cycle.

FIFA has previously encountered trouble with deals involving private partners for commercial activities. When ISL, the company that negotiated World Cup rights deals, went bankrupt in 2001, estimates of FIFA's losses ranged between $30 million and $115 million.

As the football world grapples with FIFA's ambitious commercial vision, the coming months will prove decisive. With UEFA, former FIFA leaders, and prominent public figures all raising serious concerns about transparency and governance, the proposal's fate rests in the hands of the FIFA Council and member associations. Will they embrace this new financial frontier, or push back against what critics call the ultimate betrayal of the sport's spirit? Share this article with fellow football fans and let us know where you stand on the future of the beautiful game.

Source: France 24 – English