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FIFA's $20 Billion World Cup Plan Faces Backlash

Published July 29, 2026 at 12:03 PM UTC

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino has unveiled a proposal to establish a $20 billion subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), aimed at managing global competitions like the World Cup. This initiative seeks to raise up to $4.2 billion by offering minority stakes to private investors, including Thrive Capital, led by Joshua Kushner. Each of FIFA's 211 member federations would receive a one-time payment of $20 million. The plan has sparked significant criticism from UEFA, which argues that the World Cup "is not FIFA's to sell." Infantino has set a September 19 deadline for federations to decide on the proposal.