FIFA announced on Tuesday its intention to sell a minority share in the commercial operations of the World Cup and other competitions via a newly formed semi-private company named FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
While FIFA will hold the majority stake and maintain full control over football governance and competition regulations, the organisation hopes to generate $4.2 billion by inviting long-term investors to acquire non-controlling interests later this year.
Details of the Plan
- FFE is expected to have an initial valuation of $20 billion.
- Each of FIFA's 211 member associations will be offered a one-time opportunity to invest $20 million for a small stake (0.1%) in FFE.
- These funds, combined with existing FIFA programmes, could increase FIFA’s development funding to over $10 billion across the next four years.
Reactions and Concerns
The announcement followed a report by The Times, which cited leaked information including potential investors such as Joshua Kushner and JP Morgan Chase. The report also alleged FIFA President Gianni Infantino could benefit personally by becoming commissioner of FFE after 2031.
UEFA responded critically, stating the move threatens the integrity of football governance and questioned the transparency of financial gains involved.
FIFA emphasised it will retain exclusive authority over all sporting decisions and calendar management despite the investment structure.
Future Prospects
FIFA is exploring expanding the World Cup to 64 teams by 2030, building on the record-breaking 48-team tournament held in 2026. The new investment model could also influence the frequency and size of major FIFA events such as the Club World Cup.
Past attempts to privatise parts of FIFA’s commercial rights have faced challenges, but this new approach aims to balance capital infusion with governance control.
