FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that he was abandoning a controversial proposal to sell stakes in future World Cup profit revenues to private investors, a plan that had drawn sharp criticism from soccer’s governing bodies, executives and fans worldwide.
The Proposal and Its Fallout
The scheme envisioned creating a subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to oversee the commercial activities of FIFA, including broadcasting rights, sponsorship deals and hospitality services. Under the plan, investors would purchase a 20 percent equity stake in FFE, valuing the venture at roughly $20 billion and aiming to raise $4.2 billion in capital.
Thrive Eternal, a firm led by Joshua Kushner, was identified as the anchor investor, while each of FIFA’s 211 member federations would have received $20 million annually, double the current $10 million allocation and potentially rising to $24 million by 2038.
Opposition coalesced quickly. UEFA declared it would boycott all FIFA competitions unless Infantino dropped the plan, citing concerns that private investors could dictate match schedules and revenue distribution. Even U.S. President Donald Trump, whose family had been linked to potential investors, said he had not been consulted about the proposal.
The backlash prompted the resignation of FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour and senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro, with Lamour’s public statement effectively giving Infantino permission to dismiss him. Meanwhile, CONMEBOL, under FIFA vice‑president Alejandro Domínguez, said it would evaluate the proposal rigorously before taking a stance.
Infantino’s traditional support base in Africa remained largely silent, while European federations pressed for his resignation, threatening coordinated boycotts that could have disrupted the upcoming World Cup cycle. The controversy also arrived at a critical juncture, just weeks before the November 18 deadline for candidates to declare their presidential bids, with potential challengers such as Nasser al‑Khelaïfi and Victor Montagliani watching closely.
The current financial model, which generated a record $15 billion in revenue from the 2023‑26 World Cup cycle, funds the existing $10 million per federation distribution. The abandoned plan had promised to double that amount, a promise that now appears shelved as FIFA reverts to its previous revenue‑sharing arrangement.