FIFA seeks investment project... Europe threatens World Cup boycott

FIFA, under the presidency of Gianni Infantino, plans to establish a new $20 billion subsidiary to manage the World Cup and other tournaments and events organized by the organization, while offering up to 20% of its shares to external investors. This move has sparked sharp criticism and unprecedented European opposition, particularly from UEFA, which has even threatened to boycott the World Cup. Warnings have been raised that the project could reshape the sport for decades, with critics arguing it amounts to selling the “soul” of the game, ushering global football into a new phase of conflict between FIFA and UEFA.

Criticism of FIFA has continued to mount. Glenn Mickelgrave, the European Commission’s Commissioner for Youth, Culture, Sport and Education, strongly condemned the project, telling FIFA: “Keep your hands off our game.” The CONCACAF and Asian confederations also criticized the initiative. They were joined by the English and German football associations, while French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo raised “many questions” about the project.

Data indicates that European associations are preparing to hold an emergency meeting this week to discuss a response, while UEFA is exploring legal options to counter the plan, alongside escalating criticism from political figures, sports officials, and former FIFA presidents.

The project still requires approval from a majority of FIFA’s 211 member national associations, making the coming weeks decisive in determining its fate. Meanwhile, the football community awaits the outcome of the anticipated European meeting, wondering whether associations will limit themselves to legal and political objections or escalate their stance by formally threatening a World Cup boycott, in a crisis that could redraw the balance of power within global football.

The project involves creating a new company named “FIFA Forward Enterprise,” which will manage the commercial rights of FIFA’s tournaments, including the Men’s and Women’s World Cups and the Club World Cup. Minority stakes will be sold to private sector investors to raise approximately $4.2 billion, valuing the company at around $20 billion, while FIFA retains majority ownership and control over sporting and regulatory decisions.

**Emergency Meeting Looms with Boycott Threat**

The European response represents the most serious reaction since the project was announced. British media reports indicate that European associations will discuss escalation options during an emergency virtual meeting, including using the threat of a World Cup boycott as leverage if FIFA proceeds with its plan.

UEFA views the project as the greatest challenge to the football system since the attempted launch of the European Super League in 2021, with its advisors studying available legal options to confront the initiative. Reports also suggest that several national associations were caught off guard by the announcement and had no prior knowledge of the plan, further fueling anger across the European continent.

In a strongly worded statement, UEFA described the new FIFA project as “crossing a red line that football governing bodies should not breach.” The European confederation emphasized that the issue does not concern Europe alone but affects all stakeholders, including national associations, leagues, clubs, players, fans, and governments.

The statement added that “the spirit of football and its governance mechanisms are not commercial assets for sale, especially given the lack of transparency regarding who will reap the financial benefits,” stressing that “no one owns football, and it is not FIFA’s property to sell.”

UEFA fears that investor involvement will create continuous pressure to expand international tournaments or increase their frequency, threatening the balance of the football calendar and impacting continental and domestic competitions.

The British newspaper *The Daily Telegraph* quoted one participant in the consultations as saying, “We must act quickly,” while another source described the situation as a “nuclear bomb that has exploded in the world of football.”

**FIFA Defends the Project**

FIFA has insisted that the project does not involve selling the World Cup or relinquishing control over the sport, but rather creating a specialized commercial company to help maximize revenues and reinvest them in the development of football worldwide. It states that it will retain full control over governance, tournament management, the international calendar, and all sporting and regulatory decisions, while investors will hold only non-controlling minority stakes in the new company.

FIFA clarified that the project will enable an increase in funding allocated to national associations to more than $10 billion in the coming years, raising the basic support for each association from $8 million to $20 million, along with the possibility of each association receiving an additional one-time funding of up to $20 million to implement major projects.

**Infantino: We Want a Fairer Distribution of Wealth**

FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the project, emphasizing that football has become a massive global industry and that the goal is to ensure all national associations benefit from this growth.

He stated that the next phase requires a specialized commercial structure to manage business activities more efficiently and distribute returns more effectively worldwide, confirming that the project aims to “make global football more democratic” and give each association a greater opportunity to build its future.

Annual salary reaching $64 million FIFA denied reports suggesting that Gianni Infantino would be appointed chief executive of the new company after the end of his term, confirming that this idea had not been discussed. It noted that the federation’s president and its executive management would continue to play a key role in ensuring that control remains with FIFA. According to Britain’s The Times, the project could lead to the appointment of Gianni Infantino as chief executive of the new company after his term as FIFA president ends, in exchange for an annual salary that could reach $64 million—a figure the newspaper said is roughly equivalent to the salary of the commissioner of Major League Soccer.

Fears of a transformed World Cup Despite FIFA’s assurances, critics of the project argue that the entry of investors would make profit generation a priority, which could eventually lead to an expansion of the World Cup or an increase in its frequency, alongside an expansion of the Club World Cup and the Women’s World Cup. Critics contend that investors would push to stage tournaments in the most lucrative markets, prioritizing commercial returns over sporting considerations.

Burnham: Selling part of the tournament means selling the game British Prime Minister Andy Burnham was among the first politicians to criticize the project, insisting that football “does not belong to investors, but to the fans who fill the stands week after week.” He added that the World Cup “is not a commercial product, but the greatest sporting tournament in the world, and it has never belonged to anyone to sell,” arguing that selling any part of it means that “FIFA has sold itself.”

Final deadline for approval… $40 million for each federation FIFA informed member associations that each would receive $40 million if they supported the plan to sell stakes in major competitions, but they must join the project by September 19. According to The Times, Swiss-Italian FIFA President Gianni Infantino informed members that a financing package totaling $10 billion would become available if they decided to approve joining the plan. In a letter seen by the British newspaper, Infantino wrote that the decision rests with each association individually, stating: “If you wish to move forward, this $10 billion package will become available from January 1, 2027, marking the next phase of our shared journey.” He added: “If you prefer to maintain the status quo and reject this proposal, the previously planned expansion of the ‘Forward’ (development funds) program, valued at $2.7 billion, will remain as previously presented.” Thus, “during the next cycle beginning on January 1, 2027, each member association will be able to receive funding of up to $40 million under this proposal.” The Times noted that sources opposing the plan described Infantino’s offer as an “explicit bribe.”