FIFA said in a statement FFE would raise up to $4.2 billion later this year to help fund development programs “based on an initial equity valuation of $20 billion by carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests”.<\/p>\n
FIFA is working with J.P. 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\u2019s World Cup that finished this month only deepened the political and personal ties between Trump and Infantino, and fuelled concerns about those ties including from UEFA.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe soul and governance of football are not assets to trade \u2014 especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially,\u201d UEFA said, responding to the reports of selling stakes in FIFA competitions.<\/p>\n
FIFA is currently a Swiss-based not-for-profit association of its 211 national member federations worldwide.<\/p>\n
Those members must approve any plan and would get the chance \u201cto access up to $20 million in one-off capital,\u201d FIFA said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is about the democratization of football worldwide,\u201d Infantino said in a FIFA statement, which added that \u201ca consultation process has begun.\u201d<\/p>\n
UEFA, however, said it took reports of the project \u201cextremely seriously. So should every national Football Association.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis crosses a line that football\u2019s governing institutions should never cross,\u201d said UEFA, which comprises 55 of the FIFA members.<\/p>\n
![\"FIFA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-speaks-during-a-news-confere-Y3G7BNSEGBHFFHSYDCMMBFIUVI.jpg\")
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during a news conference at the stadium in Mexico City, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, a day before the opening FIFA World Cup match between Mexico and South Africa. (Source: Associated Press)<\/p>\n
FIFA’s $20M offer to member federations<\/p>\n
The outline of the surprise announcement was, FIFA said, detailed by Infantino to members who met in Manhattan on July 18 ahead of the World Cup final. There, Infantino promised to \u201cunleash the commercial potential and opportunity that FIFA has”.<\/p>\n
FIFA\u2019s statement about its proposed project led on how much money each of its 211 members could get through 2038 in the \u201cFIFA Fast-Forward Program”.<\/p>\n
Instead of the currently promised $8 million each in development funds through the 2027-30 World Cup commercial cycle, it would be $20 million, then $22 million and $24 million in the following cycles.<\/p>\n
FIFA banked record World Cup income of about $12 billion from the 2026 tournament which had unprecedented high prices for tickets and hospitality across the US, Canada and Mexico. It already was unclear how that money could be matched from Spain, Portugal and Morocco co-hosting the 2030 men\u2019s edition.<\/p>\n
Member federations could choose if they wanted to take part in the new financial opportunities, FIFA said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFIFA would retain sole control of FFE and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, match calendar, and all regulatory and sporting decisions,\u201d the football body said.<\/p>\n
FIFA\u2019s integrity standards were called into question during the World Cup, including by team coaches, Norway’s football federation and a top European public body, the Council of Europe.<\/p>\n
FIFA’s previous attempt to privatise assets<\/p>\n
![\"FIFA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-addresses-the-76th-fifa-cong-CNLOHBNIVJDIVGKDIQP5WSBUXM.jpg\")
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