FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed a radical shift in how the organization finances the World Cup, seeking to bring private investors such as Josh Kushner’s Thrive Capital into the tournament’s commercial structure.
The overture has alarmed many of soccer’s continental bodies, who fear that external capital could compromise the sport’s integrity and the fairness of the competition.
A contested vision for the World Cup
Among those named as a possible successor to Infantino is Nasser Al‑Khelaifi, the Qatari businessman who heads Paris Saint‑Germain and chairs beIN Media. Al‑Khelaifi quickly dismissed any notion that he harbors ambitions for the FIFA presidency.
In response, UEFA called an emergency gathering of its 55 member federations to dissect the proposal, with some delegates openly discussing the prospect of boycotting the next World Cup if the plan proceeds.
The debate underscores a broader tension between traditional governance of the sport and a new wave of entrepreneurial financing that could reshape global soccer’s economic landscape.
While the outcome remains uncertain, the episode has already sparked a lively discourse among officials, clubs, and fans about the future direction of the world’s most watched sporting event.