FIFA says the proposed investment will boost funding for football development worldwide, while UEFA and Concacaf warn the move could undermine the sport’s independence.
FIFA has reaffirmed its commitment to a controversial proposal that would allow private investors to acquire a minority stake in its commercial operations, despite strong opposition from UEFA and Concacaf.
The plan would establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), responsible for managing the commercial rights of FIFA’s premier competitions, including the FIFA World Cup. The new entity has been assigned an initial valuation of approximately $20 billion.
Private equity firm Thrive Eternal, founded by venture capitalist Joshua Kushner, is expected to lead an investor consortium seeking to purchase the minority stake. FIFA argues the investment will generate significant long-term revenue that can be redirected toward football development programs, particularly for smaller and emerging member associations.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the proposal, insisting that “nobody is selling football” and maintaining that the governing body’s control over the sport and its competitions would remain unchanged.
However, the initiative has sparked strong resistance from two of football’s most influential regional confederations. UEFA has warned it could boycott future FIFA World Cups if the proposal proceeds, while Concacaf confirmed that all 41 of its member associations have rejected the plan.
To secure approval, FIFA requires support from at least 106 of its 211 member associations. Reports indicate that member federations backing the proposal before the September 19 deadline would receive an immediate $20 million distribution, a move FIFA says reflects the financial benefits of the new commercial structure.
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