FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced a plan on Tuesday to create a $20 billion company to operate the World Cup with backing from private investors, including members of the Kushner family. The proposal aims to bring private sector involvement to FIFA’s major competitions.
The announcement faced swift opposition from UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, which stated in a statement that “It is not FIFA’s to sell” and stressed that “None of us are the owners of football.” UEFA and other officials, including UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, have criticized the proposals to seek private investment in FIFA’s competitions.
The disagreement reflects broader questions about the governance and commercialization of international soccer. While FIFA has positioned the initiative as a way to modernize tournament operations, critics argue that major sporting competitions should not be treated as assets to be privatized by individual organizations.
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