The British newspaper The Times has revealed a controversial plan being considered by FIFA President Gianni Infantino that would allow private equity investors to step into world football’s most lucrative tournaments.
Under the proposed strategy, a new commercial entity would be established to manage, market, and monetize the Men’s World Cup, Women’s World Cup, and the expanded Club World Cup. Rather than retaining 100% financial control within FIFA, equity stakes in this company would be sold to external investors.
Key highlights of the reported FIFA privatization plan include:
-
Direct Allocation to Associations: Each of FIFA’s 211 member associations could receive a stake valued at approximately $20 million, which they would be free to hold or sell for immediate cash.
-
Expanded Tournament Formats: Private investor involvement could push for larger tournament grids or more frequent competitions to maximize commercial revenue and yield higher return on investment.
-
High-Profile Investors: Discussions have reportedly involved figures linked to the administration of US President Donald Trump, along with Joshua Kushner (brother of Jared Kushner) and investment banking titan JP Morgan.
-
Leadership Transition: The report suggests Infantino could transition into the role of Commissioner for the new entity after his final presidential term at FIFA, a move that could yield tens of millions of pounds for him personally.
The project remains in the preliminary discussion phase and has not received formal approval. FIFA has yet to respond to The Times’ request for official comment.
