FIFA Private Equity Plan Crosses a Line, Says Uefa
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- FIFA announced plans to create a new subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to consolidate commercial and event operations, with American venture capital firm Thrive Eternal — founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared — expected to lead the investor group.
- FIFA said the deal would expand "football development funding" to more than $10bn (£7.5bn) and grant all 211 member associations access to up to $20m (£15m) in "one-off capital" for development.
- Uefa issued a statement saying the proposals "cross a line," warning the "soul and governance of football are not assets to trade" and flagging fears that further FIFA competition expansion could threaten its own tournaments.
- Andy Burnham wrote on X that going ahead would mean FIFA had "sold out," declaring "The World Cup is not a product. It was never anyone's to sell."
- The Football Association said it was unaware of FIFA's plans when they were released; the proposal still requires a vote of all 211 member nations, potentially at the FIFA Congress in Morocco in March.
- Football finance expert Kieran Maguire told BBC Sport the new structure would likely create pressure for a 64-team World Cup held every two years to satisfy the shareholders, while one senior English football executive privately called it "the biggest story since the European Super League."
Why it matters: The proposed FFE subsidiary would give outside investors — led by a firm founded by Jared Kushner's brother — a financial claim on FIFA's commercial revenue, creating built-in pressure for tournament expansion (potentially a 64-team, biennial World Cup) to deliver shareholder returns while directly encroaching on Uefa's most lucrative competitions.
