The proposal put forward by FIFA president Gianni Infantino to open the World Cup to private investment has ignited a firestorm across the sport's governing bodies.
The vote and the fallout
Under the concept known as Football Forward Enterprise, the plan would allocate a share of the tournament's revenue to a $20 billion venture, with the aim of raising the financial support for each of FIFA's 211 member associations from roughly $8 million to $20 million annually.
European football's governing body, UEFA, responded with a unanimous 55‑0 vote rejecting the scheme, describing it as an attempt to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and related competitions to external investors.
The rejection was echoed by CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, which together represent the majority of FIFA's membership, citing concerns over due process, transparency and the lack of a proper governance framework.
FIFA issued a statement insisting that recent media coverage had mischaracterised the initiative, while acknowledging that the proposal had sparked significant public debate and that the organization remained committed to funding its development programmes.
According to an Associated Press report published on July 28 2026, the scheme envisioned a $20 billion company that would be co‑owned by a consortium that includes the Kushner family, adding a layer of high‑profile investors to the already contentious plan.
In a swift follow‑up, UEFA announced on July 30 2026 that it would boycott all FIFA‑sanctioned events, including the World Cup, as a protest against the proposal, a move that underscored the depth of the opposition.
The backlash culminated in the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, a former president of the United States Soccer Federation and a senior adviser to Infantino, who publicly denounced the plan and denied any involvement in its conception.
The episode has reignited broader discussions about the governance of world football, with many calling for clearer rules and greater accountability when decisions that affect the sport's premier competition are made.