FIFA is pressing its 211 member associations to back plans to sell stakes in the World Cup, just hours after the FA voiced deep concerns over the proposal from FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
News broke on Tuesday that Infantino was considering selling parts of the tournament to private investors and forming a new company, in a deal that could be worth around £15billion. FIFA later confirmed the plan in a hastily issued statement.
In a letter to the associations, Infantino says member nations must decide on the proposal by September 19. The letter explains the financial benefits of approving the project, saying a funding package of around £30million per nation will become available if associations sign up, but that earnings will be almost 75 per cent lower if they reject it.
"The decision on whether or not to proceed with this proposal belongs entirely to you," the letter says. "Should you wish to proceed this $10billion package will become available as of January 1, 2027, ushering in the next phase of our journey together. Should you wish to retain the status quo and reject this proposal we still have our planned expansion of the Forward programme of $2.7billion as previously presented. In total for the upcoming cycle starting as of January 1, 2027 each member association will have the possibility of access up to $40million per member association under this proposal."
UEFA responded by suggesting FIFA was attempting to bribe associations into accepting the plan. "Today we have learned of FIFA's deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn," UEFA said. "This says everything you need to know about this plan. But having held discussions with many stakeholders across the game, UEFA knows there is significant and growing opposition to FIFA's scheme. FIFA cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends. We can grow the game correctly. It's time to prioritise associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans."
Investment bank J.P. Morgan is FIFA's financial adviser on the project, while Joshua Kushner's Thrive Capital is expected to lead the proposed investor group. Kushner is the brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared, and the Trump administration is understood to have been consulted. FIFA hopes to raise more than £3billion for the venture from a diversified, global investor group thought to include sovereign wealth funds. If the plan succeeds, FIFA intends to give each of its 211 member associations a stake in the company, worth £15million, which they can keep or sell.
The FA said it had been left in the dark over the proposals. "We were completely unaware of this proposal and have no substantive details, including what the proposition actually is, and what conditions are attached," an FA spokesperson said. "Based on the limited information, we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point, and the apparent substance and principles involved. When the proposal is shared in the full and transparent way now promised by FIFA, we will make our views clear, and comment further."
It has been suggested Infantino could become commissioner of the new company once his role at FIFA ends in 2031, though FIFA says that has not been discussed.
Opposition mounts
European Football Clubs, which represents over 800 European clubs and is chaired by PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, a figure who has been touted as a potential leadership challenger to Infantino, also objected. "European Football Clubs (EFC) notes with serious concern the sudden, unilateral media briefings and announcement by FIFA about a potential new corporate structure," the body said, adding it represents over 850 clubs and "learned about this proposal in the same way as most global football stakeholders, without warning and through the media." It called for "calm and thorough consultation" and more transparent governance.
The European Leagues Association, of which the Premier League is a founding member, said: "The World Cup should not be for sale. It is not the FIFA President's private equity asset. Its value is created day in and day out by leagues, clubs, players and supporters who are being left without a voice or a vote on this matter. European Leagues firmly reject this proposal."
Prime Minister Andy Burnham also criticised the plan on X: "Football does not belong to investors. It belongs to the people who fill the stands and who stand on the touchline week in, week out, rain or shine. The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone's to sell. Dress the deal up however you like. Once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out. Football belongs to the fans. It always has, and it always will."
One European nation has already backed the plan publicly. Czech FA president David Trunda told Sky News: "I can see the pragmatic benefits for Czech football from working in close co-operation with [FIFA president] Gianni Infantino and his team. Of course we need more details, but my personal point of view is that I can see the positive impact of FIFA's intentions."
A new company
FIFA wants to set up a company responsible for the "operational delivery of FIFA tournaments," called FIFA Forward Enterprise. It says the plan would help expand the FIFA Forward development programme, increasing funding from £6million to £15million for the 2027-30 international cycle. FIFA would need approval from the FIFA Council and majority support from the FIFA Congress, made up of the 211 member associations, to launch the enterprise.
Three of the six continental confederations, including UEFA, have expressed resistance. "This crosses a line that football's governing institutions should never cross," UEFA said. "UEFA takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder who cares about the future of the game. The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade, especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA's to sell."
CONCACAF said on Wednesday morning it had only learned of the plan through media reports. "We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process," the confederation said, adding that the plan had been designed and shared publicly before any discussion with governance bodies took place. The Asian federation also said it was disappointed by the lack of consultation.
There are concerns over what the proposals could mean for the frequency of tournaments, including whether FIFA could stage events more often to give financial backers a faster return. The Club World Cup and men's World Cup are currently held every four years, and FIFA has previously explored staging both every two years. FIFA maintains it will control development of the project, with external investors holding only a minority stake in FIFA Forward Enterprise and no operational role.
