Jared Kushner is backing an investment plan to take a controlling stake in FIFA's World Cup operations through a private venture [1, 2].
The proposal represents a fundamental shift in how the world's most popular sporting event is managed. By moving commercial rights and operations into a privatized structure, FIFA would grant private investors significant influence over the tournament's financial and operational direction [2, 3].
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has set a deadline in July 2026 for a $20 million offer directed toward FIFA members as part of the arrangement [1]. This specific payment is tied to a larger $20 billion operation designed to run the World Cup [2].
Kushner, a U.S. businessman and former senior adviser to former President Donald Trump, is a primary backer of the plan [1, 2]. The venture aims to generate increased revenue by leveraging private capital to manage the commercial aspects of the tournament [2, 3].
The proposal has met with significant resistance from football governing bodies. UEFA, the governing body for football in Europe, has expressed fury over the plan to sell shares in a World Cup spin-off venture [2, 3].
While some reports suggest an ambition to own FIFA entirely, verified details indicate the focus is on a controlling stake in the World Cup's commercial operations rather than the governing body itself [1, 2, 3].
“Kushner is backing an investment plan to take a controlling stake in FIFA's World Cup operations”
This move signals a transition toward the 'Americanization' of global sports management, where public or non-profit governing bodies shift toward private equity models. If successful, the privatization of World Cup operations would decouple the commercial success of the tournament from the traditional oversight of FIFA's member associations, potentially prioritizing investor returns over the sport's traditional developmental goals.
