FIFA president Gianni Infantino has called off a scheme that would have turned future World Cup earnings into a privately owned venture, a move that followed a wave of criticism from soccer’s governing bodies, political leaders and fans.
The FFE Proposal
The plan, first floated in early 2024, envisioned creating a subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to manage the sport’s commercial rights, including broadcasting, sponsorship and hospitality. The venture was slated to raise roughly $4.2 billion by selling about a 20 percent stake, with Thrive Eternal — backed by Joshua Kushner — identified as the anchor investor.
Mounting Opposition
Opposition coalesced quickly. European football’s governing body, UEFA, issued a stark warning, threatening to boycott all FIFA competitions unless Infantino abandoned the scheme. The sentiment was echoed by several national federations, Britain’s prime minister and a coalition of elite leagues, all of whom feared that private investors would demand a heavier calendar of matches and a larger share of revenues.
Consequences Within FIFA
Within FIFA’s own ranks, chief operating officer Kevin Lamour publicly denounced the plan, and senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, labeling it a “bad deal” for the sport. CONMEBOL, the South American confederation led by vice‑president Alejandro Domínguez, opted to scrutinize the proposal before taking a stance, while the traditional African support base remained silent.
Looking Ahead
The fallout has cast doubt on Infantino’s political future. Though he was re‑elected unopposed in 2019 and again in 2023, his current term is his last under FIFA statutes, and the controversy has left his bid for a third stint uncertain. Names such as Nasser al‑Khelaïfi and Victor Montagliani have surfaced as potential challengers, though no formal candidacy has been announced. The episode also underscores the broader tension between preserving FIFA’s traditional model and exploring new revenue streams in an increasingly commercialized sport. As the organization looks ahead to the 2026 World Cup — where Infantino and former U.S. president Donald Trump presented the trophy — the shadow of the abandoned FFE plan lingers over future decision‑making.