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Wednesday, July 29Wednesday, July 29
1 day · 3 summary articles
FIFA to sell minority stakes in World Cup to investors amid UEFA and EU backlash
FIFA unveils 20 billion World Cup investment plan with Kushner family, sparks UEFA backlash
FIFA plans to sell World Cup stakes to private investors sparking UEFA backlash
FIFA announced on Tuesday plans to sell stakes in future World Cups and other events to private investors, aiming to maximize revenue for the sport. The proposal involves creating a $20 billion subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to run the World Cup and other events. FIFA would retain the majority share, but minority stakes would be sold to external investors to raise up to $4.2 billion.
The plan has faced strong opposition from UEFA, the European football governing body. UEFA released a statement saying, "This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross. The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade — especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially."
The EU has also expressed concerns about FIFA's move. EU sports Commissioner Glenn Micallef stated, "Commercial success should strengthen football, not consume it. Hands off our game." The involvement of a venture capital firm linked to Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has added to the scrutiny.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has written to all 211 member associations, offering each $40 million if they back his controversial plan. The deadline for the member associations to give their approval is September 19. According to reports, Infantino has promised a one-off payment of $40 million to each association if they support the plan.
The proposal has sparked widespread criticism from football governing bodies worldwide. UEFA was among the first organizations to condemn the proposal, warning against turning the sport into a commercial asset. UEFA vice-president Gabriele Gravina criticized FIFA's proposal, stating, "Football cannot be reduced to a private affair."
The plan has also drawn criticism from the Dutch football association, KNVB, and the Norwegian football association, NFF. The KNVB expressed concern about the plan, calling it a "very worrying development."
The controversy surrounding FIFA's plan continues to grow, with many questioning the transparency and implications of the proposal. The plan requires majority support from FIFA's member countries, and the deadline for their decision is fast approaching.
In response to the backlash, FIFA has emphasized that the plan is intended to support the development of football globally. However, critics argue that the plan lacks transparency and could lead to further commercialization of the sport.
The plan has also raised concerns about the potential influence of private investors on the governance of football. Some fear that the involvement of private investors could lead to decisions being made based on financial interests rather than the best interests of the sport.
The debate over FIFA's plan is expected to continue in the coming weeks as the deadline for approval approaches. The outcome of this debate could have significant implications for the future of football governance and the commercialization of the sport.
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FIFA sets deadline for investor deal According to various reports, FIFA, the world football governing body, has set a deadline for approval of a planned investor deal and, in return, has promised a one-off payment. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox This has been reported by several British media outlets, which quote verbatim from the five-page letter from FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The deadline for the 211 member associations to give their approval is reportedly September 19. The letter is reported to state: "Should you wish to proceed this $10 billion package will become available as of January 1, 2027, ushering in the next phase of our journey together." This would amount to US$40 million per association annually – four times as much as at present. "Should you wish to retain the status quo and reject this proposal we still have our planned expansion of the Forward programme [development money] of $2.7 billion as previously presented," Infantino is reported to have written to the ...
swissinfo · about 2 hours ago
EU sports chief slams FIFA plan: This isnt baseball EU Sports Commissioner Glenn Micallef has distanced himself from FIFAs plan to create a commercial company to sell shares of its tournaments to external investors. FIFA aims to raise 27.6 billion DKK to reinvest in football, a plan requiring majority support from its member countries. Micallef criticized the relentless commercialization of football, joining UK Prime […]
cphpost · about 2 hours ago
KNVB "very concerned" by FIFA plans to sell World Cup shares The KNVB is very concerned about FIFAs plans to sell shares in the World Cup.
nltimes.nl · about 2 hours ago
Infantino, FIFAs investor plan to sell stake in World Cup: What we know How the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise has provoked criticism, including from UEFA and Britains new Prime Minister.
aljazeera · about 2 hours ago
American, Asian confederations blindsided by FIFAs World Cup plan Americas governing body deeply concerned by lack of due process in FIFA private investment plan, AFC disappointed.
aljazeera · about 2 hours ago
Infantino sets deadline for FIFA offer in Kushner-backed World Cup plan FIFAs president lobbies for latest, and heavily criticised, proposal for investment in footballs governing body.
aljazeera · about 2 hours ago
Ex-FIFA chief Blatter blasts plan to sell stake in World Cup to investors Sepp Blatter, FIFA chief for 17 years until 2015, has blasted new proposal that moves peoples game further from fans.
aljazeera · about 2 hours ago
Brussels rises against FIFA President Infantinos plan to bring in private investors A proposal to privatize FIFAs commercial operations is the latest episode to draw criticism from Brussels officials and lawmakers.
politico.eu · about 2 hours ago
Fifa offers $40m if nations back controversial plan Fifa has set a deadline of 19 September for member associations to access cash as FA voice disapproval of world governing bodys funding plan before emergency Uefa meeting.
bbc sport · about 2 hours ago
Wimbledon broke attendance record despite World Cup clash Wimbledon enjoyed a record attendance and generated nearly 5 billion social media impressions despite competition from the soccer World Cup, the All England Club said on Wednesday. A cumulative 550,151 fans passed through the gates during the fortnight, slightly up on 2025, with many purchasing tickets on the day via Wimbledons famous queue. Daily attendance […]
cyprus mail · about 2 hours ago
Máxima tensión: la UEFA estudia boicotear el Mundial y torneos de la FIFA La UEFA ha analizado internamente la posibilidad de que sus federaciones y clubes boicoteen las competiciones de la FIFA, incluidos el Mundial y el Mundial de Clubes, como respuesta al proyecto del organismo internacional para incorporar capital privado a una nueva sociedad valorada en 20.000 millones de dólares, según informa Bloomberg. Leer
expansion · about 2 hours ago
Investoren im Fußball: Der große WM-Ausverkauf Fifa-Präsident Gianni Infantino will Investoren am Geschäft mit den Weltmeisterschaften beteiligen. Aus Europa gibt es heftigen Protest dagegen. mehr...
taz.de · about 2 hours ago
Uefa hardt ut mot Fifa: – Kan ikke fortsette å berike seg selv Uefa melder om stadig økende motstand mot Fifas omstridte VM-planer. Samtidig lokker Fifa med store pengesummer til…
aftenposten · about 2 hours ago
FIFA-baas Infantino wil investeerders laten verdienen aan het WK. Wat is het plan en waarom is de woede zo groot? Grote ontsteltenis over het nieuwste idee van FIFA-baas Gianni Infantino om investeerders rechtstreeks te laten verdienen aan het grootste sporttoernooi ter wereld. Wat is er aan de hand?
nrc · about 2 hours ago
Verscherbelt die Fifa den Fußball? Was hinter Infantinos Milliardenplan steckt Private Investoren sollen beim milliardenschweren Vermarktungsgeschäft der Fifa einsteigen. Der Weltverband verspricht mehr Geld für seine Mitglieder – Uefa und andere Kritiker warnen vor einem Ausverkauf des Fußballs
der standard · about 2 hours ago
⚽ CONCACAF followed UEFA on Wednesday by criticising FIFAs controversial plans to sell a stake in the business operations of the World Cup and its other competitions through the creation of a semi-private subsidiary. ➡️ u.afp.com/Srzs
bluesky_AFP English · about 2 hours ago
Hands off our game: EU slams FIFA for selling a stake in the World Cup EU Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef backs the European Football Association in criticising the plan, which involves Trumps affinal relative Joshua Kushner, while European countries are reportedly weighing a boycott.
euronews · about 2 hours ago
FIFAs plan to sell World Cup to private investors met with shock and anger by the world of football Gianni Infantino has written to all 211 member associations, offering each $40 million (€35 million) if they back his controversial plan to sell stakes in the governing bodys major competitions.
euronews · about 2 hours ago
Is World Cup sell-off plan a step too far by Infantino? BBC Sport explores why Fifa president Gianni Infantino feels powerful enough to sell off stakes in the World Cup - and what the consequences could be.
bbc sport · about 2 hours ago
Personne na le droit de vendre notre sport, une évolution très préoccupante": le nouveau projet de la FIFA sous les critiques La Fédération internationale du football, association à but non lucratif, a provoqué la stupéfaction mardi en annonçant vouloir créer une société afin de gérer ses activités commerciales, promettant ainsi dégager une manne de 10 milliards de dollars. ...
la libre · about 2 hours ago
La UEFA carga contra el plan de la FIFA para privatizar el Mundial La UEFA ha criticado el supuesto proyecto de la FIFA para incorporar inversores privados a una nueva sociedad que agruparía activos comerciales de sus competiciones. El organismo europeo exige aclarar el control, los derechos incluidos y los posibles beneficiarios de una operación que podría abrir entre un 20 y un 30 del capital. Leer
expansion · about 2 hours ago
KNVB niet blij met veelbesproken FIFA-plan: Zeer zorgelijke ontwikkeling De KNVB maakt zich zorgen over de plannen van de FIFA om aandelen van het WK voetbal te verkopen. De Nederlandse voetbalbond noemt het voorstel een "zeer zorgelijke ontwikkeling".
nu.nl · about 2 hours ago
Investoren-Pläne im Fußball: BVB-Boss zu FIFA-Plänen: „Überhaupt keine gute Idee Die neuen Ideen von FIFA-Präsident Infantino sorgen vielerorts für Kopfschütteln. Das sagt Borussia Dortmunds Clubchef Cramer.
tagesspiegel · about 2 hours ago
Fifa-Präsident plant Ausverkauf des Fußballs: Kann denn niemand diesen Infantino-Wahnsinn stoppen? Fifa-Präsident Infantino treibt die Kommerzialisierung des Fußballs auf die Spitze. Der geplante Einstieg privater Investoren könnte den Sport letztlich kaputt machen.
tagesspiegel · about 2 hours ago
Cum funcționează de fapt controversatul plan al lui Infantino și FIFA de „vânzare a Cupei Mondiale. Rolul familiei Trump Gianni Infantino şi FIFA au confirmat intenţia de a crea o societate comercială a forului de conducere pentru a-şi deschide capitalul investitorilor privaţi. O astfel de evoluţie ar constitui o răsturnare majoră pentru fotbalul mondial şi ar putea genera venituri semnificative. RMC Sport prezintă o analiză a acestui proiect, care deja generează controverse.
digi24 · about 2 hours ago
Reaktionen aus Deutschland: „Ekelt mich an: Eberl entsetzt über FIFA-Pläne Auch in der Bundesliga löst die Ankündigung der FIFA über einen möglichen Investoreneinstieg bei der Fußball-WM Irritationen aus. Nicht nur der Sportvorstand des FC Bayern übt mit deutlichen Worten Kritik.
faz · about 2 hours ago
WM-Verkaufspläne der FIFA: Die wahren Waffen der UEFA Gianni Infantino presst den Fußball aus, wo es nur geht. Europas mächtige Verbände müssen sich endlich anders wehren – nicht nur wegen der neuen Pläne für die Weltmeisterschaft.
faz · about 2 hours ago
Heftiger Wirbel um FIFA-Plan: Infantinos „absoluter Angriff auf den Fußball FIFA-Präsident Gianni Infantino will Anteile der Fußball-WM in eine Vermarktungsfirma auslagern – auch das Trump-Umfeld könnte davon profitieren. Die UEFA spricht von einem Tabubruch. Kommt es zum großen Knall?
faz · about 2 hours ago
FIFA private investor plans spark backlash, UEFA fury FIFA said Tuesday it plans to sell a stake in the business operations of the World Cup and its other competitions through the creation of a semi-private subsidiary. The decision marks a dramatic attempt to reshape the commercial landscape of global football, while opening a new front in a long-running battle with Europe for control over the massive wealth generated by the sport.
france24 · about 2 hours ago
FIFA plan for Kushner-backed $20 billion operation to run World Cup meets fury from Europes UEFA
gdeltproject.org · about 2 hours ago