FIFA’s plan to sell stakes in the commercial exploitation of the World Cup triggered a swift and categorical reaction from UEFA, while also becoming a major topic in the international press.
Announced on Tuesday, FIFA’s plan to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling private stakes in the commercial exploitation of the World Cup landed like a bombshell and is sparking widespread reaction. UEFA has already publicly challenged FIFA’s intention, stating that “football is not for sale,” but the controversy shows no signs of abating, with criticism directed at Gianni Infantino becoming increasingly heated.
What is at stake?
In a statement, FIFA explained that its goal is to increase funding for football development to over $10 billion by creating a new commercial structure—a move that requires approval from a majority of its 211 member associations and the organization’s Council.
However, The Times has revealed that FIFA intends to sell stakes in World Cup commercial rights to private investors through this new subsidiary, with Infantino emerging as a potential commissioner for the new company.
To this end, FIFA is already working with J.P. Morgan, and potential investors include Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner—the brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.
It was this report by *The Times* that prompted UEFA’s categorical response; the governing body emphasized that FIFA’s proposal “crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross.”
“The soul and governance of football are not assets to be traded, especially without any transparency regarding who stands to benefit financially. None of us owns football,” asserted the European football governing body.
“Nuclear bomb” dropped by Infantino
FIFA’s plans quickly sparked controversy and dominated international newspaper headlines. From Spain to Argentina, the topic has been discussed and debated over the last few hours.
“The standoff between FIFA and UEFA, which has been dragging on for several years, continues to escalate. The scandal surrounding Donald Trump’s alleged interference with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee during the World Cup—in the so-called Balogun case—triggered a wave of criticism against Gianni Infantino’s leadership and marked the start of an offensive by UEFA,” reports El País.
Meanwhile, AS highlights UEFA’s forceful response to FIFA’s plans, describing the latest controversy as a “nuclear bomb.”
“FIFA President Gianni Infantino has initiated a process that could culminate in the sale of stakes in the World Cup and the Club World Cup to private investors. The move sparked a scathing reaction from UEFA, which declared in a harsh statement: ‘None of us owns football. It is not FIFA’s property,'” the Spanish newspaper writes.
The Financial Times, on the other hand, offers a more in-depth look at the changes FIFA intends to implement and their potential economic impact, in an article titled “FIFA puts the World Cup up for sale.”
“Last week, we wrote that English football was up for sale. Yesterday, we revealed that it is, in fact, world football that is for sale. And this time, the prize is the biggest of all: the World Cup. FIFA, the governing body of world football and organizer of its most lucrative competition, is creating a new entity to consolidate its commercial revenues. But the real turning point lies elsewhere: the Swiss-based non-profit organization intends to sell stakes in this entity to investors for billions of dollars,” the article reads.
The Argentine newspaper *Clarín* points to plans by Infantino that would benefit Trump’s son-in-law, while also revealing that the FIFA president could command a very high salary.
“Infantino emerges as the leading candidate to take on the role of CEO or commissioner of the new company once his final term as FIFA president ends. Although this possibility has not yet been formally defined or debated, the position is expected to carry compensation similar to that of the NFL commissioner.” “Currently, Roger Goodell earns around $64 million a year,” it notes.
“No one has the right to sell our game”
The close relationship between Infantino and Trump is back in the spotlight, with former FIFA president Joseph Blatter once again pointing the finger at the current leader of world football’s governing body.
“The close relationship between the FIFA president and the US president has reached a financial dimension that is deeply damaging to football. No one has the right to sell our game,” lamented Blatter in a message shared on the social network X.
