FIFA faces global backlash over proposal to sell stake in World Cup rights

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino is facing mounting criticism from the global football fraternity after proposing a major restructuring of the governing body’s commercial operations. The changes would allow minority stakes in a new company managing the FIFA World Cup and other international competitions to be sold to private investors. Member associations of FIFA say the proposal also imposes an ultimatum on them to accept the changes.

The controversy comes only weeks after the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a tournament that was overshadowed by a series of controversies surrounding FIFA’s governance. Including FIFA’s decision to rescind a red card issued during the tournament after United States President Donald Trump reportedly spoke with Infantino. 

FIFA proposes to establish a new commercial entity known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). According to documents distributed to FIFA’s 211 member associations, the new company would manage the commercial and event operations of the FIFA competitions.

Under the proposal, FIFA would retain overall control of the competitions while selling up to a 20% minority stake in the new entity to private investors, with the aim of raising approximately $4.2 billion. FIFA says the additional capital would expand development funding, with each member association potentially receiving up to $40 million under the proposed program, subject to approval by the membership.

The Guardian reported that it had seen a 25-page investment prospectus, titled FIFA Forward Enterprise Member Materials, prepared for FIFA member associations. According to The Guardian, the document outlines plans for the creation of the new commercial company and identifies venture capitalist Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, as the prospective purchaser of the proposed 20% stake. The report also states that the prospectus was prepared by the US investment bank JPMorgan Chase, the same financial institution that advised the failed European Super League project launched in 2021.