Prateek Tanmay
2 min readJul 29, 2026 12:53 PM IST
European football’s governing body, UEFA, on Tuesday issued a stern threat to FIFA after reports surfaced that FIFA was seeking private investment in the World Cup and other events hosted by the world body.
FIFA said on Tuesday that it plans to create a semi-private subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to sell minority, non-controlling stakes in the business operations of the World Cup and other tournaments. While retaining majority control, FIFA aims to raise $4.2 billion from long-term investors later this year.
British newspaper The Times reported that FIFA president Gianni Infantino stood to profit from the scheme after his proposed next term at the helm of the world body runs out in 2031. Reports have also stated that discussions with potential investors were already underway. It comprises Thrive Capital, an investment company founded and led by Joshua Kushner, brother of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared and a subsidiary of JP Morgan Chase, the US bank that unsuccessfully attempted to bankroll the European Super League.
In its statement, UEFA voiced a sharp riposte, stressing that FIFA’s iniatitive had “crossed a line.”
“This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross. UEFA takes it extremely seriously.”
“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade — especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell,” the UEFA statement read.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter also took to social media to highlight his successor’s swelling American connection.
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“The close relationship between the FIFA President and the US President has reached a financial dimension that is deeply damaging football. No one has the right to sell our game,” wrote Blatter.
Estimating an equity valuation of 20 billion dollars for the FFE, FIFA said that it “would retain sole control of FFE and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, match calendar, and all regulatory and sporting decisions”.
FIFA added that each of its 211 member associations (MAs) would be given the chance to take a one-off stake of 20 million dollars in the FFE.
