FIFA president Gianni Infantino has unveiled a bold proposal to spin off the organization’s flagship tournaments into a $20 billion venture called the FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE, that would be run alongside a coalition of private investors, among them the Kushner family.
The scheme, which would place the management of the World Cup and other international competitions under a privately financed vehicle, has drawn immediate fire from UEFA, which issued a stark warning that football’s governance and soul are not for sale.
The debate over football’s future
According to people familiar with the plan, the new entity is slated to raise an initial $4.2 billion, with a portion of the proceeds earmarked for member federations that could each receive up to $20 million, a figure that has sparked both optimism and skepticism across the sport’s administrative landscape.
Critics have pointed to the episode as the latest chapter in a series of attempts to commercialize the beautiful game, recalling a 2018 effort to privatize FIFA assets that collapsed under fierce resistance from European football’s governing body.
Infantino’s close relationship with Saudi Arabia, including ties to Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, has added another layer of intrigue, while analysts speculate that his next move could take him beyond the confines of FIFA’s traditional remit.
The proposal also comes ahead of an online FIFA congress scheduled for November 23, where the governing body will confirm the hosts of the Women’s World Cup editions for 2031 and 2035, a decision that could further shape the sport’s global trajectory.