FIFA Pushes Investment Plan as UEFA Threatens World Cup Boycott
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- FIFA released a statement insisting "nobody is selling football" and pledged to continue its consultation process on a controversial plan to create a commercial subsidiary allowing private investors to buy stakes.
- UEFA voted on Thursday to boycott World Cups if the proposal proceeds, accusing FIFA of using football "to enrich themselves and their friends."
- Concacaf said its 41 member associations "rejected" the plan, adding to opposition from European football's governing body.
- Infantino wrote to FIFA members offering $40m (£30m) if they back the proposal, with a September 19 deadline and an initial $20m (£15m) on the table for federations that accept.
- FIFA needs 106 of its 211 member votes for approval; UEFA and Concacaf members combined make up 96 of those votes, leaving Infantino reliant on roughly 10 cross-bloc votes.
- Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) would be the new subsidiary allowing "minority, non-controlling investments," with American venture capital firm Thrive Eternal expected to lead the investor group.
- Thrive Eternal was founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
- FIFA claimed the consultation was "disrupted by incorrect media reports" but said it would continue so members can vote "based on facts."
Why it matters: FIFA needs 106 of 211 member votes to pass the proposal, yet UEFA and Concacaf alone control 96 of those votes after both blocs came out against it. With UEFA threatening a World Cup boycott and Concacaf's 41 federations already rejecting it, Infantino must flip roughly 10 votes across those blocs — a fight made more pointed by the $40m financial carrot he's dangling and the Trump-adjacent investor lined up to lead the deal.
