FIFA has officially vowed to move forward with its controversial proposal to invite private investment into its business operations, despite facing intense backlash and threats of a boycott from European football leadership.
The world governing body stated that all 211 of its member associations deserve the opportunity to consider the plan, asserting that the project is not a sale of the sport.
FIFA emphasized that it would never entertain selling football, and "Nobody is selling football," it said.
The proposal, announced on Tuesday, suggests the creation of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a commercial subsidiary intended to manage major events such as the World Cup and the Club World Cup. With a proposed valuation of $20 billion, FIFA claims the initiative could raise up to $4.2 billion.
If successfully implemented, the project would allow private investors to acquire minority stakes in the company.
In return, FIFA suggests each member association could receive a one-off payment of $20 million by early 2027, with funding for the 2027-2030 cycle increasing from $8 million to $20 million.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the initiative on Wednesday, describing it as a "golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally." However, the proposal has encountered stiff resistance. UEFA, Europe's governing body, has threatened to boycott the World Cup if the plans remain in place.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, who boycotted the World Cup final in protest, stated that there is no place in football for such a model, arguing that the sport's future cannot be dictated by those seeking to maximize financial returns.
UEFA further condemned the proposal as "a failure of leadership" and "governance by intimidation," noting that the plan was developed in secret without meaningful consultation.
Opposition has extended beyond Europe. CONCACAF, representing North and Central America, confirmed that all 41 of its member associations have rejected the proposal. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have also expressed significant concerns regarding the lack of transparency in the process.
Several European federations and European Union officials have criticized the move as an excessive commercialization of sport, citing potential conflicts of interest. The EU praised UEFA on Thursday for "defending the integrity of the game," with European commissioner for sports Glenn Micallef echoing these sentiments.
In response to the criticism, FIFA stated that its consultation process had been "disrupted by incorrect media reports." The organization reaffirmed its commitment to an open and democratic process, promising to ensure that every member association has the ability to vote based on the facts.
"National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum — accept the irreversible capture of football's greatest competitions or bear the consequences.
