The biggest ever World Cup brought diverse communities together and galvanised its non-traditional footballing co-hosts, but the concerns raised from the start have not disappeared in the positive afterglow.<\/p>\n
FIFA said in a statement FFE would raise up to $US4.2 billion later this year to help fund development programs “based on an initial equity valuation of $US20 billion by carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests”.<\/p>\n
FIFA is working with JP Morgan while intended investors include Thrive Eternal, launched by Joshua Kushner, whose brother Jared Kushner is a son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
The men’s World Cup that finished this month only deepened the political and personal ties between Mr Trump and Mr Infantino, and fuelled concerns about those ties, including from UEFA.<\/p>\n
“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade \u2014 especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially,” UEFA said, responding to the reports of selling stakes in FIFA competitions.<\/p>\n
FIFA is a Swiss-based not-for-profit association of its 211 national member federations worldwide.<\/p>\n
![\"Jared](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7be63a8f2875461fe7a1640ea2a9e921.jpeg\")
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The brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner (pictured), is among the potential World Cup investors.\u00a0 (Reuters: Kent Nishimura)<\/p>\n
Those members must approve any plan and would get the chance “to access up to $US20 million in one-off capital”, FIFA said.<\/p>\n
“This is about the democratisation of football worldwide,” Mr Infantino said in a FIFA statement, which added that “a consultation process has begun”.<\/p>\n
UEFA, however, said it took reports of the project “extremely seriously. So should every national Football Association”.<\/p>\n
“This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross,” said UEFA, which comprises 55 of the FIFA members.<\/p>\n
FIFA emphasising financial benefits for members![\"Gianni](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785293773_700_65a705fecc1c7e3d9870a3b3dfb65636.jpeg\")
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FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has promised to “unleash the commercial potential” of the World Cup. (Getty Images)<\/p>\n
FIFA said Mr Infantino had detailed the outline of Tuesday’s surprise announcement to members who met in Manhattan on July 18 ahead of the World Cup final.<\/p>\n
There, Mr Infantino promised to “unleash the commercial potential and opportunity that FIFA has”.<\/p>\n
FIFA’s statement emphasised how much money each of its 211 members could get in the “FIFA Fast-Forward Program”, running until 2038.<\/p>\n
Instead of the promised $US8 million each in development funds in the 2027-30 World Cup commercial cycle, it would be $US20 million, then $US22 million and $US24 million in the following cycles.<\/p>\n
FIFA banked record World Cup income of about $US12 billion from the 2026 tournament, which had unprecedentedly high prices for tickets and hospitality across the US, Canada and Mexico.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4014a391ad0911d36fd3e868e4e61d94.jpeg\")
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World Cup winners Spain will be one of six nations hosting matches at the 2030 World Cup.<\/p>\n
It was unclear how that money could be matched from Spain, Portugal and Morocco co-hosting the 2030 men’s edition.<\/p>\n
Member federations could choose if they wanted to take part in the new financial opportunities, FIFA said.<\/p>\n
“FIFA would retain sole control of FFE and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, match calendar, and all regulatory and sporting decisions,” the soccer body said.<\/p>\n
FIFA’s integrity standards were called into question during the World Cup, including by team coaches, Norway’s soccer federation and a top European public body, the Council of Europe.<\/p>\n
FIFA’s previous attempt to privatise assets![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/dad5fddc7870b6cce20c94c064887b54.jpeg\")
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Infantino has built stronger ties with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman throughout his tenure as FIFA boss. (Reuters: Evelyn Hockstein)<\/p>\n
Mr Infantino’s 11-year FIFA presidency has become increasingly controversial, and this is the second time he has tried to push through a multi-billion-dollar deal with private backers.<\/p>\n
In 2018 he proposed a secretive $US25 billion offer over 12 years with SoftBank of Japan to create new global competitions, including an expanded men’s Club World Cup, seemingly backed by Saudi Arabian money.<\/p>\n
That ultimately failed after meeting fierce resistance from UEFA, which saw threats to its prize assets: the Champions League and the European Championship.<\/p>\n
Mr Infantino still built closer ties to Saudi soccer and the kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup, and largely funded the revamped men’s Club World Cup hosted in the US last year.<\/p>\n
What does this mean for Infantino’s future?<\/p>\n
The financial success of the just-ended World Cup has made it likely that Mr Infantino will be re-elected unopposed next year for a fourth and final term in office through to 2031.<\/p>\n
At his re-election in 2023 in Rwanda, Mr Infantino suggested any CEO delivering similar financial results would be kept in the job forever.<\/p>\n