FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing mounting resistance to a proposal that would open the World Cup and other assets to private investors, with European, American, and Asian confederations voicing sharp objections to a plan valued at as much as $20 billion.
The scheme, dubbed FIFA Forward Enterprise, would create a commercial vehicle attracting outside capital in exchange for stakes in football’s governing body and its flagship tournaments. Backers of the initiative are said to include US private investment figures linked to Jared Kushner, and Infantino has set a deadline for member associations to respond to the offer.
UEFA, European football’s governing body, has emerged as the most vocal critic, accusing FIFA of “crossing a line” and arguing that the World Cup is not FIFA’s asset to sell. The European body has questioned both the substance of the plan and the process behind it, warning that member federations were not properly consulted.
Discontent extends well beyond Europe. The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean regions expressed being “deeply concerned” by what it characterized as a lack of due process, while the Asian Football Confederation said it was “disappointed” at being blindsided by the announcement. Officials across several confederations complained they learned of the details with little advance notice.
At the heart of the dispute is a question of ownership and governance. Critics contend that the World Cup, as a competition built on the contributions of national associations and their players, cannot simply be packaged and sold to financial backers. Supporters of the plan argue that fresh investment could accelerate the global development of the sport and expand revenues.
The controversy revives long-running tensions between FIFA and its most powerful stakeholders over control of the game’s finances and calendar. Similar friction has surfaced in past clashes over breakaway competitions, echoing debates seen when figures such as Real Madrid president Florentino Perez pushed for a European Super League in defiance of UEFA.
Political attention has also intensified. The plan has drawn scrutiny in the United Kingdom, where the new prime minister has been drawn into the debate over foreign and private investment in the sport, adding a layer of governmental pressure to the football establishment’s concerns.
The timing is delicate. FIFA is preparing for an expanded 48-team World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, a tournament already navigating logistical and security questions. Any prolonged dispute over the sport’s commercial structure could complicate preparations.
Whether the confederations’ objections translate into a formal boycott or force FIFA to revise the proposal remains uncertain. With a response deadline looming, the coming weeks are expected to determine whether Infantino can build consensus or faces an open revolt from the game’s regional powers.