FIFA Confirms Plan to Seek External Investment for Competitions

FIFA has unveiled a project to establish a new entity, the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), designed to consolidate its commercial activities and secure external investment for its global tournaments. The organization stated the goal is to increase funding for football development through minority investments, while FIFA itself would maintain exclusive control.

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The administration of the FIFA is exploring the idea of bringing together all commercial rights, encompassing broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing, along with the operational implementation of its tournaments through the creation of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).

The FFE would manage all commercial rights, including broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing, and licensing, along with the operational execution of FIFA's tournaments. FIFA intends to invite third parties to make non-controlling minority investments, projecting a fundraising target of $4.2 billion. According to the statement, FIFA would retain majority representation on the board of directors, ensuring its exclusive authority over football governance, competition schedules, and regulatory decisions.

FIFA plans to expand its football development funding to over $10 billion, contingent on approval from its member associations. The organization, structured as a non-profit, allocates a portion of its revenue to organizing competitions and employee remuneration, with the remainder directed towards development programs that it expects the FFE to enhance.

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FIFA will invite third parties to make minority investments, without controlling power, within this company.

To facilitate this initiative, FIFA is collaborating with investment bank J.P. Morgan and the investment fund Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner. UEFA, a frequent critic of FIFA's decisions, reacted swiftly, asserting that "the soul and governance of football are not assets to be speculated on," particularly without transparency regarding financial benefits. The European body emphasized that football belongs to no one and is not for FIFA to sell.

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The soul and governance of football are not assets to be speculated on, especially without transparency about the destination of financial gains. None of us own football. It is not FIFA's to sell.