FIFA says it hopes to sell $4.2bn stake in its tournaments

FIFA announced Tuesday its intention to sell a stake in the business operations of the World Cup and other competitions, establishing a semi-private subsidiary named FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The global football governing body plans to raise $4.2 billion by offering minority, non-controlling stakes to long-term investors later this year. FIFA stated it would retain a majority share and sole control over FFE, emphasizing that football governance, competitions, and all regulatory and sporting decisions would remain under its exclusive authority.

The announcement followed a report in The Times, which cited leaked plans and suggested FIFA President Gianni Infantino could profit from the scheme. The report also named potential investors, including Joshua Kushner and an arm of JP Morgan Chase. European football's governing body, UEFA, swiftly condemned the plan, stating that "the soul and governance of football are not assets to trade." UEFA expressed serious concerns about the lack of transparency regarding financial benefits and questioned FIFA's right to sell stakes in football.

FIFA, however, believes FFE will achieve an initial equity valuation of $20 billion. The organization also plans to offer each of its 211 member associations a one-off stake of $20 million, a sum that could be significant for smaller or less affluent members. FIFA projects that these investments, combined with existing programs, could bring total planned development funding to over $10 billion in the next four years. This move comes as FIFA anticipates record revenues exceeding seven billion euros for 2026, following the first 48-team World Cup.

“

This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross. UEFA takes it extremely seriously. The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade, especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.