European football’s governing body, UEFA, has issued an unequivocal warning: if FIFA proceeds with its plan to spin off a $20 billion commercial vehicle, every European national team will sit out all FIFA‑sanctioned tournaments, a stance that could even scuttle the 2030 World Cup co‑hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
A Deal shrouded in secrecy
At the heart of the controversy is FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to create FIFA Forward Enterprises (FFE), a new company that would control the sport’s flagship events, including the World Cup. The venture is valued at roughly $20 billion and would be opened to private investors, with Thrive Eternal, the firm run by Joshua Kushner — Donald Trump’s brother‑in‑law — expected to lead the financing.
The scheme was reportedly known to the Trump administration before it entered the public arena, and FIFA last summer secured office space in New York’s Trump Tower. Critics argue that the arrangement creates a direct financial link between the U.S. political sphere and global football governance, raising questions about conflicts of interest and the commodification of the sport.
UEFA, together with Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation, condemned the lack of transparency, calling the proposal a "lack of due process" and rejecting it outright. They warned that private ownership would tilt decision‑making toward investor returns, potentially reshaping competition formats, expanding the tournament and compromising player welfare.
To sway member associations, FIFA has attached financial incentives to the vote. Associations that back the FFE plan would receive $40 million in development funding, while dissenters would still obtain $20 million. The September 19 deadline for the vote has been labeled coercive by European officials, who argue that the rushed timeline undermines democratic fairness in a system where each member holds one vote.
Reactions from inside and outside the sport
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter accused Infantino and Trump of damaging football through their close financial and political ties, while UK mayor Andy Burnham described the World Cup as "the greatest competition in world sport" and declared it "never anyone's to sell."
The backlash extends beyond Europe. U.S. Soccer and the Asian Confederation have aligned with UEFA, and two senior FIFA officials have publicly criticized the plan, one resigning as a presidential adviser. Meanwhile, FIFA’s own council has set the stage for a contentious vote that could reshape the sport’s governance for decades.
If the proposal passes, the financial windfall could fund development across FIFA’s 211 member associations, but it also raises the specter of more frequent World Cups and expanded fields, changes that could disrupt domestic leagues and alter the sport’s traditional balance.
The controversy also spills into the personal realm. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter warned that the close financial and political connections between Infantino, Donald Trump and the Kushner family threaten the integrity of the game, while the U.S. administration’s involvement has already influenced match decisions, such as the recent overturning of a suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun.