FIFA President Gianni Infantino set a deadline of September 19 for the 211 member federations to approve his proposed private investment plan, which would provide each association with access to up to $40 million of funding. If not, the nations that deny the proposal will receive only $10 million.
Gianni Infantino is planning to sell World Cup stakes to private investors, a model that has not been used by FIFA, a non-profit organization. It’s said that Infantino would personally earn tens of millions of euros from the deal. He has engaged in discussions with investors associated with the Trump administration, while critics continue to voice concerns about his close relationship to the US president.
UEFA was the first major governing body to speak out against FIFA’s proposal. In an official statement, UEFA stated:
“This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross. UEFA takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder who cares about the future of the game. The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”
For any changes to be made, there will need to be a vote through FIFA’s 211-nation membership. UEFA, who hold 55 nations of that number, plans to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the proposal.
After a 2026 World Cup filled with criticism, it will be interesting to see whether Infantino proceeds with this controversial decision.
