FIFA has announced plans to sell a minority stake in the commercial operations of the FIFA World Cup and its other competitions through the creation of a new semi-private subsidiary.
The world football governing body said Tuesday it will establish FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), while retaining majority ownership and control of the new entity. FIFA hopes to raise $4.2 billion later this year by selling non-controlling minority stakes to long-term investors.
In a statement, FIFA said the move is intended to strengthen investment in the global game while ensuring it retains exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, the international match calendar and all regulatory decisions.
The announcement came after reports by The Times and the Financial Times claimed FIFA President Gianni Infantino could benefit from the arrangement by becoming commissioner of the new company after leaving office in 2031. FIFA denied the claim, saying no such discussions had taken place.
According to the reports, potential investors include Thrive Capital and an investment arm of JPMorgan Chase, although FIFA has not confirmed any agreements.
The proposal has drawn criticism from football stakeholders. UEFA warned that football's governance should not become a commercial asset, while former FIFA President Sepp Blatter described the plan as damaging to the sport.
If approved by FIFA's Council and member associations, the new subsidiary is expected to have an initial valuation of $20 billion. FIFA also said each of its 211 member associations will have the opportunity to acquire a one-time $20 million stake, adding that the initiative could help increase development funding for football to more than $10 billion over the next four years.
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