UEFA says it and its 55 national associations are united in rejecting FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership stakes in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors. The virtual meeting chaired by UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin concluded that the idea of treating the World Cup as an “investment product” is unacceptable and that the tournament should not be surrendered to outside investors.
England’s Football Association said it stands “shoulder to shoulder” with its European counterparts and opposes the plan, adding that the World Cup belongs to the game and must remain so. The Scottish FA also backed UEFA’s position, criticizing the way the proposals were circulated and a deadline imposed without a full consultation or attention to good governance.
UEFA pointed out that, while it makes up about a quarter of FIFA’s 211 members, it represents many of the world’s most successful teams. European nations dominated this summer’s World Cup quarter-finals, with six of the eight teams (including winners Spain) coming from Europe; the corresponding totals were five and six in 2022 and 2018. Of the 23 tournaments held so far, European countries have won 13.
Under FIFA’s plan, a commercial subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) would be set up to consolidate commercial and event operations for major competitions. FIFA says it would invite third parties to take minority, non-controlling investments in the new entity.
President Gianni Infantino wrote to all 211 member associations offering payments tied to support for the proposal: $40m (£30m) if associations back the scheme, and an initial $20m (£15m) available to those accepting by a 19 September deadline. The timing overlaps with the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland, which begins on 5 September.
If the plan wins member approval, FIFA has indicated that an investor group expected to be led by Thrive Eternal would be involved. Thrive is a US venture firm founded by Joshua Kushner, who is the brother of Jared Kushner (Donald Trump’s son-in-law). FIFA sources say there has been no talk of Infantino or anyone else taking the chief executive role at FFE.
UEFA accused FIFA of using the sport “to enrich themselves and their friends” and described the proposal as having been conceived in secret and pushed without meaningful consultation. The governing body called the approach an abdication of FIFA’s custodial duty, saying associations now face an ultimatum: accept what UEFA described as the irreversible capture of football’s flagship competitions or suffer the consequences. UEFA called the method “governance by intimidation,” an act unworthy of the organisation entrusted with stewarding the global game.
The proposal still requires a formal vote by FIFA’s membership. UEFA’s warning suggests that, if the scheme proceeds as currently framed, some European associations could refuse to participate in FIFA competitions, potentially leading to a boycott or other collective action.
