FIFA announced Tuesday a plan to create a $20 billion [1] subsidiary to manage future World Cups through private investment.
The move represents a fundamental shift in how the world's largest sporting event is governed, moving operational control from a non-profit entity toward a commercial corporate structure.
President Gianni Infantino said the organization is seeking new ways to fund the tournament and ensure its growth for future generations [2]. The new company would allow FIFA to sell stakes to private investors to generate revenue and modernize the delivery of the event [3]. Among the interested parties are members of the Kushner family, including Joshua Kushner [1, 3].
While some reports value the operation at $20 billion [1], other estimates place the figure at £15 billion [4]. This discrepancy highlights the scale of the commercialization effort currently underway in Zurich.
UEFA, the European football governing body, reacted with opposition to the proposal. The organization said that the governance of the sport should not be subjected to private ownership. A UEFA spokesperson said, "It is not FIFA’s to sell. None of us are the owners of football" [1].
The tension between FIFA and UEFA centers on the legal and ethical boundaries of sports administration. UEFA contends that the World Cup is a public trust rather than a corporate asset, a distinction that could lead to legal challenges across European jurisdictions.
FIFA has not yet detailed the specific percentage of equity it intends to sell or the exact voting rights the Kushner family and other investors would hold within the new subsidiary [3].
“"It is not FIFA’s to sell. None of us are the owners of football."”
This shift signals a transition from the traditional 'federation' model of sports governance toward a private equity model. By creating a subsidiary, FIFA can bypass some of the restrictive non-profit regulations that govern its main body, potentially allowing for aggressive commercial expansion while insulating the parent organization from the direct liability of private investors.
