FIFA President Infantino Proposes Selling Stakes in World Cup Management
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced plans to create a subsidiary company valued at $20 billion to manage the World Cup with private investors.
Among potential investors is the family of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Donald Trump. This initiative has faced strong criticism from UEFA.
The FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) aims to raise up to $4.2 billion for development programs by offering minority stakes.
FIFA is collaborating with JP Morgan, and the Thrive Eternal fund is also mentioned as a potential investor.
UEFA expressed serious concerns, stating that “the soul of football is not an asset for trade.”
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FIFA is registered in Switzerland as a non-profit association, and any initiatives must be approved by 211 national federations.
Infantino emphasized that this is about “democratizing football worldwide,” and the consultation process has already begun.
Key details of the deal were presented at a meeting in Manhattan on July 18, where Infantino promised to unveil FIFA's commercial potential.
Instead of the current $8 million for development, each federation could receive up to $20 million under the “FIFA Fast-Forward” program.
Previous Attempts
This is Infantino's second attempt to push a multi-billion dollar deal with external investors. In 2018, he proposed a $25 billion agreement with Japan's SoftBank, which failed due to UEFA's resistance.
However, Infantino has established closer ties with Saudi football, and Riyadh is set to host the 2034 World Cup.
Infantino's Future
FIFA generated record revenue from the 2026 World Cup - around $12 billion, paving the way for Infantino's re-election next year.
Rumors about his potential global role in football after his term ends continue to circulate.
FIFA did not confirm the timeline for discussing new initiatives.
