FIFA President Gianni Infantino has set a Sept. 19 deadline for member federations to accept a one-off $20 million offer [1].
The proposal represents a fundamental shift in how the world governing body manages its finances. By creating a separate commercial entity, FIFA aims to monetize its event operations through private investment while providing immediate liquidity to its members.
Under the plan, 211 FIFA member federations [1] are eligible to receive the $20 million payment [1]. This offer is underwritten by an investment firm linked to the brother of Jared Kushner [1]. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to raise capital and sell stakes in a new entity that will control FIFA's commercial and event operations [1], [2].
Financial projections for the new entity are substantial. The organization plans to raise $4.2 billion in capital [2] for the venture. Furthermore, the equity valuation of this new commercial entity is estimated at $20 billion [2].
The move seeks to involve the Kushner-backed firm in the financing of future World Cup commercial operations [2], [3]. This structure would allow FIFA to distance its core regulatory functions from its profit-generating activities, effectively treating the World Cup's commercial arm as a corporate asset.
Infantino said the timeline from Geneva, Switzerland [1]. The deadline of Sept. 19, 2026, gives member federations several weeks to decide if they will participate in the funding model [1].
“FIFA President Gianni Infantino has set a Sept. 19 deadline for member federations to accept a one-off $20 million offer.”
This transition toward a private-equity style model for World Cup commercial rights suggests FIFA is seeking a permanent capital infusion to modernize its operations. By offering immediate cash to member federations, Infantino is likely securing the political support needed to approve the creation of a $20 billion entity that shifts commercial control toward private investors.
