Overview
- FIFA announced plans to form FIFA Forward Enterprise, a commercial subsidiary valued at $20 billion that would consolidate World Cup commercial rights and seek up to $4.2 billion by selling minority, non‑controlling stakes to outside investors.
- FIFA said J.P. Morgan is advising the project and that Thrive Eternal, a vehicle linked to Joshua Kushner, is expected to lead the investor group, a detail that has amplified questions about links to President Donald Trump and potential conflicts of interest.
- UEFA issued an immediate and blunt rejection, calling the idea a line football’s institutions should not cross and convening urgent member discussions where options reported to be under consideration include a boycott of FIFA tournaments.
- FIFA insists it would keep sole control over governance, competitions, the match calendar and sporting rules and says the plan requires approval from its 211 member associations, each of which could choose to take a one‑off payment of up to $20 million.
- The proposal revives long‑running governance worries about private money in football, follows earlier failed commercial pitches such as a 2018 SoftBank plan, and is likely to trigger ethics and political reviews that could reshape who controls future World Cup revenue and scheduling.