FIFA considers selling stakes in major tournaments to private investors

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is evaluating a proposal to sell a 20%-30% stake in the organization's premier tournaments, including the Men's and Women's World Cups and the Club World Cup, to private investors. According to reports, this move aims to raise billions of dollars and build upon the financial success of the tournament recently hosted in the United States. Under the plan, FIFA would retain majority control, while all 211 member associations would also receive small equity stakes in the newly formed commercial entity tasked with managing these events.

Potential investors identified in reports include JPMorgan Chase and businessman Joshua Kushner, who has reportedly held discussions with figures close to the administration of Donald Trump. However, the proposal has faced immediate and sharp opposition from UEFA. The European governing body criticized the plan as a threat to the fundamental governance of the sport, asserting that the "soul" of football should not be treated as a commercial asset for sale without full transparency. UEFA has called upon stakeholders, including players, leagues, and fans, to address this issue with the utmost seriousness, arguing that no single entity has the right to privatize the game.