FIFA has proposed a plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other events to private investors, provoking a furious response from the European football governing body, UEFA.
FIFA announced on Tuesday a $ 20 billion subsidiary that would be created to run the World Cup and other events, offering stakes up to 20% to external investors. They have planned to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to oversee commercial and event operations.
FIFA is one of the world’s wealthiest sporting organizations, generating billions of dollars in revenue from broadcasting rights, sponsorships and commercial partnerships, monetizing the future of the game. This will mark the largest-ever financial transaction in sports history, rivaling the NBA’s billion-dollar media rights deals and Formula 1’s commercial restructuring.
FIFA has offered a minority stakes in to private investors to raise up to $ 4.2 billion after the complete 48 team World Cup held in the United States, Mexico and Canada making it the biggest tournament in history.
It has state in a statement that it would retain sole control of FFE and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, match calendars and all regulatory and sporting decisions. They also believe FFE would achieve an “initial equity valuation of $ 20 billion.”
FIFA said each its 211 member associations would be given the chance to take a one-off stake of 20 million dollars in FFE.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said they are discussing to expand to 64 teams in 2030 from 48 teams in this year, 2026. FIFA is owned by member associations which enjoy tax-free status in Switzerland.
