UEFA, AFC and Concacaf Rally Against FIFA's Plan to Sell World Cup Assets

Gianni Infantino unveiled a plan to form FIFA Forward Enterprise, a vehicle that would consolidate all revenue streams from the men’s World Cup and Club World Cup—broadcasting, sponsorship, ticket sales and licensing—into a single commercial operation. The new entity is being priced at roughly $20 billion, with the aim of selling a sizable equity stake to private investors; Thrive Capital, founded by Joshua Kushner, is leading the investor search.

UEFA has called an urgent meeting of its members, condemning the proposal as a betrayal of football’s soul and even discussing a possible boycott of FIFA tournaments. The Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf issued statements criticizing the lack of prior consultation, and the European Football Clubs organization also complained of being left out. Despite the backlash, the Czech football association and Saudi Arabia, which will host the 2024 World Cup and is closely aligned with Infantino, appear to back the plan. Approval must come from FIFA’s 211 member associations, with the required voting threshold unclear, and members have until 19 September to apply for an initial $20 million payout.