Nobody is selling football: FIFA vows to push ahead with private investment plan
• FIFA has vowed to press ahead with a plan to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors.
• UEFA threatened to boycott all FIFA competitions if the plan proceeds; CONCACAF unanimously rejected it.
• The proposal could raise up to USD 4.2 billion based on a valuation of USD 20 billion for FIFA’s commercial subsidiary.
FIFA has vowed to press ahead with its controversial plan to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors, insisting the proposal does not amount to selling the sport itself, even as it faces widespread backlash from across the global football community.
“Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain.”
— FIFA statement, 31 July 2026
What the plan involves
| Item | Figure / Detail |
| Commercial vehicle | FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) — a commercial subsidiary to run events including the World Cup and Club World Cup |
| Proposed valuation | USD 20 billion |
| Potential fundraise | Up to USD 4.2 billion |
| Investor position | Minority shareholders only |
| One-off payment to each of FIFA’s 211 member associations | USD 20 million (payable early 2027 if approved) |
| Funding uplift (2027–2030 cycle) | From USD 8 million to USD 20 million per member association |
FIFA described the initiative as a way to provide unprecedented resources to develop football worldwide. President Gianni Infantino characterised it as a chance to accelerate global growth.
“A golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally.”
— Gianni Infantino, FIFA President
UEFA’s response: boycott threat
UEFA voted to boycott all FIFA competitions for as long as the private investment proposals remain active. The threat covers the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions involving European national teams. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin boycotted the World Cup final to signal his unhappiness with FIFA before the proposal was formally announced.
“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.”
— UEFA statement
“Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return. Nor can the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters become subordinate to investor returns.”
— Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA President
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CONCACAF, AFC and CAF positions
CONCACAF, the governing body for North and Central American football — whose three member nations co-hosted the 2026 World Cup — said all 41 of its member associations unanimously rejected the proposal. CONCACAF cited concerns about the lack of due process, the artificially short deadline imposed for a decision, and the absence of review by FIFA’s own governance bodies.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) expressed concern that the proposal was made public before all 211 member associations had been fully consulted. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) urged its members to carefully review the plan. Several leading European national federations and European Union officials also criticised the proposal, with EU Sports Commissioner Glenn Micallef publicly praising UEFA for defending football’s integrity.
FIFA’s response to the backlash
FIFA acknowledged receiving feedback from UEFA and CONCACAF, and said the consultation process had been disrupted by what it described as incorrect media reporting. The governing body reaffirmed its commitment to an open and democratic process.
“We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each member association has the ability to express its vote based on facts.”
— FIFA statement
The outcome of the consultation and whether the plan proceeds remains unresolved.
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