FIFA says "nobody is selling football" as it vows to continue with the controversial plan to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors.
Uefa – the governing body of European football – voted on Thursday to boycott the World Cup if the plan proceeds, while CONCACAF, which ran this year’s tournament, rejected the proposal outright.
FIFA’s proposal involves the creation of a commercial subsidiary (FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE). The organisation would invite third parties to acquire minority, non‑controlling stakes in the new company, providing a cascading revenue stream for all member associations.
The plan is backed by a 25‑page JP Morgan dossier outlining an estimated €24 million per member association payout between 2035 and 2039, along with new business initiatives and incentive‑driven salaries for top talent. The women’s game is notably absent from the discussion.
Infantino has offered a £30 million (€40 million) incentive in March to federations willing to back the plan, with a deadline of 19 September and an additional £15 million (€20 million) available to those who sign up earlier.
UEFA’s statement called the World Cup “not for sale” and warned that accepting the plan would be a “failure of leadership” and an “abdication of FIFA’s duty” as the custodian of world football.
CONCACAF said it had “deep concerns” about the short deadline and the lack of due‑process, while the AFC, CAF and OFC have announced they will discuss the proposal in August. The CONMEBOL has yet to comment publicly.
Football legends such as Xabi Alonso have urged that the sport stay in the hands of the fans and not private investors.
Small‑nation federations – many of which depend on FIFA funding for infrastructure and grassroots programmes – have voiced a need for alternatives. Ugandan football official Rogers Byamukama stresses that any new avenues for resources could accelerate growth across Africa.
The decision deadline coincides with the U20 Women’s World Cup, starting on 5 September, and the 2027 World Cup qualifiers. A boycott could cut short mid‑tournament, ending before semifinals.
Infantino, who has held the FIFA presidency since 2016, was originally re‑elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023. He is expected to win a fourth term in 2027 if the plan gains the required 106 votes out of FIFA’s 211 member associations.
As the debate continues, the future of major tournaments and the health of national programmes remain at stake, especially for the smaller footballing nations who rely heavily on FIFA’s financial support.
