FIFA has issued a response to reports regarding a proposed scheme to sell a stake in its tournaments, following leaks from two sources published by the British newspaper The Times. The newspaper alleged that FIFA president Gianni Infantino, 56, could benefit from the plan by serving as commissioner of the newly proposed entity, the FFE, once his expected term ends in 2031. The report also suggested that discussions with potential investors, including Joshua Kushner and an arm of JP Morgan Chase, were already underway.
In its statement, FIFA clarified that it would maintain sole control of the FFE, retaining exclusive authority over all regulatory, sporting, and governance decisions, as well as the match calendar and competition structure. The organization estimated that the FFE could reach an initial equity valuation of $20 billion. Under the proposal, each of FIFA's 211 member associations would be offered the opportunity to acquire a one-off stake of $20 million. While this represents only 0.1 percent of the total, FIFA noted that the investment could provide significant funding for smaller or poorer members, potentially increasing total development funding to more than $10 billion over the next four years.
The proposal drew sharp criticism from UEFA, which stated that football's governance and soul should not be traded assets. UEFA emphasized that FIFA does not own football and argued that the plan lacks transparency regarding financial beneficiaries. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham also voiced opposition, stating that football is not a product. An unnamed senior football figure cited by The Times described the plan as potentially worse than the failed European Super League due to its global impact, while another source warned of unacceptable conflicts of interest for FIFA and Infantino.
This is not the first time such an initiative has surfaced; in 2019, a FIFA committee rejected an Infantino-backed $25 billion proposal for an expanded Club World Cup involving investors like SoftBank and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Speculation suggests the FFE model could pressure FIFA to expand or increase the frequency of the World Cup and the Club World Cup. As a not-for-profit organization, FIFA currently benefits from tax-free status in Switzerland. In June, the organization projected record revenues exceeding seven billion euros, or $8 billion, for 2026, the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, with Infantino previously mentioning potential discussions regarding an expansion to 64 teams by 2030.
"This crosses a line that football's governing institutions should never cross. UEFA takes it extremely seriously," said UEFA's statement.
"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."
