FIFA’s proposal to sell a minority stake in a new commercial subsidiary has sparked a backlash from football’s governing bodies, with UEFA, the Football Association (FA) and CONCACAF all questioning the process behind the plan, while European football is now considering an emergency meeting and possible responses, which sources told ESPN could include boycotting future World Cups.The proposal, unveiled by FIFA earlier this week, would reshape the commercial ownership of the governing body’s flagship competitions, including the FIFA World Cup and Club World Cup, by transferring its commercial and tournament operations to a newly formed company backed by private investment.
FIFA proposes new commercial company
On Tuesday, FIFA announced plans to create a new subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprises, which would control the organization’s commercial and tournament operations while retaining power over governance, regulations, scheduling and sporting decisions.Under the proposal, FIFA would sell a 20% minority stake in the new company at an estimated valuation of $20 billion, raising about $4.2 billion in private investment.FIFA has appointed multinational financial services firm JP Morgan to advise on the deal, while the investor consortium will be led by Thrive Eternal, a fund launched by Thrive Capital founder Joshua Kushner. Kushner, the brother of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, linked the proposed investment to one of America’s most prominent political families.
President Donald Trump, left, talks to FIFA President Gianni Infantino as confetti falls at the end of the World Cup championship final football match between Spain and Argentina on Sunday, July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin)
According to FIFA, the organization will remain the majority shareholder in the subsidiary and continue to oversee all football governance matters, while the new structure is designed to generate more revenue for member associations.The proposal requires approval from FIFA’s 211 member associations before it can be implemented.
Infantino offers bonuses of up to $40 million per association
Following criticism of the proposal, FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote to all 211 member associations to defend what he called a “unique funding opportunity”.According to the letter, which was first reported the times Member associations have until September 19 to approve the proposal after it has been reviewed by multiple media outlets including The Associated Press.Infantino wrote that if approved, a $10 billion financing plan would be launched starting on January 1, 2027.“As FIFA president, it is my duty and responsibility to provide you, our members, with such a game-changing opportunity,” Infantino wrote.“If you wish to proceed, this $10 billion package will be available from January 1, 2027, beginning the next phase of our journey together.“If you wish to maintain the status quo and reject this proposal, we still have the previously proposed $2.7 billion expansion of the Forward program.”Under the proposal, each member association would receive up to $40 million in funding over the 2027-30 cycle, including a one-time payment of up to $20 million through the proposed Fast Forward program and a further $20 million through the FIFA Forward development fund.FIFA also stated that annual financial support for member associations will continue to increase until 2038.
UEFA issues strongest warning yet
The proposal prompted an increasingly vocal response from UEFA, which said it was not consulted before FIFA publicly announced the plan.On Tuesday, European football’s governing body described the proposal as “crossing a line that football’s governing bodies should never cross”.in a A strongly worded statement, UEFA said:“This crosses a line that football’s governing bodies should never cross. UEFA takes this very seriously.“So should every national football association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of football.“The soul and governance of football are not assets that can be traded, especially when there is zero transparency into who reaps the financial benefits. None of us own football. This is not something FIFA can sell. “The source later revealed ESPN UEFA has accelerated plans for an emergency virtual meeting of its 55 member associations to discuss the proposal and possible responses, including the possibility of boycotting the World Cup in the future.After learning of FIFA’s September 19 deadline, UEFA issued a second statement criticizing the ultimatum and wider proposals.“Today we learned about the deadline FIFA has given associations to back their proposals or withdraw their proposals for a one-off payment. This tells you everything you need to know about the scheme,”UEFA said. “But following discussions with a number of stakeholders across the competition, UEFA is aware that there is growing opposition to FIFA’s plans.“FIFA cannot continue to exploit our sport to enrich themselves and their friends. We can grow the sport properly. It’s time to prioritize associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans. “
The FA and CONCACAF also expressed concerns
The Football Association said it first learned of the proposal through media reports and criticized the lack of transparency throughout the process.“We have absolutely no knowledge of this proposal and no substantive details, including what exactly it is and what conditions are attached,” the FA said in a statement.“Based on the limited information available, we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to reach this point and the apparent substance and principles involved.“We will make our views clear and comment further when the proposal is shared in the full and transparent manner that FIFA is now committed to.”CONCACAF also echoed these concerns, saying it had only learned of the proposal following media reports and FIFA’s subsequent public announcement.“Concacaf only became aware of the matter through media reports and subsequent media releases,” the federation said.“We are deeply concerned about the lack of due process.“We share the disappointment of many across our region that this level of detail has been designed and shared publicly before any discussions have been held with relevant governance bodies and stakeholders.“As leaders in football, we are the guardians of our sport. FIFA, the federations and each member association have a responsibility to act in the best interests of the sport at all times.“Every decision we make must be guided by good governance, robust processes and long-term stewardship. This is the framework within which CONCACAF operates. We are confident that everyone in the FIFA family will behave in the same way.”
