FIFA President Gianni Infantino had unveiled an ambitious $4.2 billion investment plan that would hand a 20 percent stake in future World Cup profits to private investors, among them Thrive Eternal, the venture backed by Joshua Kushner.
The scheme envisioned a new subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) that would control the commercial side of the tournament, from broadcasting rights to sponsorship deals and hospitality packages.
Under the proposal each of FIFA’s 211 member associations would receive an initial $20 million, double the current $10 million grant, with the possibility of rising to $24 million by 2038.
The reaction was swift. European football’s governing body UEFA, together with several senior FIFA executives, issued a joint condemnation, warning that private investors would demand a larger calendar of matches and that the plan threatened the sport’s integrity.
Chief operating officer Kevin Lamour and senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro publicly denounced the initiative; Cordeiro subsequently resigned, while Lamour’s statement was interpreted as a direct challenge to Infantino’s authority.
UEFA went further, pledging to boycott all FIFA competitions until the proposal was abandoned, a move that would have isolated the sport’s flagship event from its most lucrative market.
While CONMEBOL, led by FIFA vice‑president Alejandro Domínguez, agreed to study the idea, other confederations remained silent, and the traditional African support base for Infantino kept a low profile.
The fallout has cast doubt on Infantino’s prospects for a third term; although he was re‑elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023, the episode has weakened his political capital ahead of the 2027 election, where names such as Nasser al‑Khelaïfi and Victor Montagliani are being floated as potential challengers.
Analysts also note that the abandoned plan was seen as a stepping stone toward a post‑2031 role that could pay Infantino more than the $6 million annual salary and bonuses he currently receives.