FIFA World Cup stake sale plan faces strong UEFA opposition

FIFA announced plans to create a new subsidiary worth about $20bn to manage the World Cup and other major competitions.

The organisation would keep majority control while offering external investors stakes of up to 20 percent. The plan could raise as much as $4.2bn.

However, the proposal still needs approval from FIFA’s 211 member associations before it can move forward.

If approved, an investment group is expected to be led by a vehicle founded by Joshua Kushner, according to FIFA.

The plan has quickly created tension with UEFA, which strongly questioned whether football’s biggest competitions should be opened to private investors.

FIFA says money will return to football

FIFA says the proposed investment plan is designed to generate more money for the development of football around the world.

The organisation recently staged a 48-team World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico, making it the biggest edition in tournament history.

FIFA already earns billions of dollars from broadcasting rights, sponsorships and commercial agreements connected to its competitions.

The governing body argues that new investment could help expand access to football and increase participation in countries that need greater financial support.

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, “Football is the world’s most popular sport”.

He added that FIFA wants the commercial success of football to help the wider game grow, with net benefits reinvested into football development.

FIFA also stressed that it would maintain control over football governance, competitions, match schedules and sporting decisions.

UEFA strongly rejects the proposal

UEFA has taken a very different view of the plan and warned that football’s governing bodies should not treat the sport as an investment asset.

The European governing body said it was taking the proposal “extremely seriously” and called on national associations, clubs, leagues, players and supporters to pay attention.

UEFA said, “The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially.”

It also added, “None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”

The dispute could become a major issue if FIFA moves ahead with the investment structure.

Political criticism adds pressure

Criticism has also come from the United Kingdom, where Prime Minister Andy Burnham opposed the idea of selling part of the World Cup to investors.

“The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell,” Burnham wrote on X.

He also warned, “Once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out.”