FIFA president Gianni Infantino is reportedly planning to sell a minority stake in the World Cup, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from UEFA and others in football governance.
Talks with JP Morgan and Kushner Involvement
According to The Times, FIFA is engaged in discussions with JP Morgan to raise billions by selling approximately 20% ownership of the World Cup to private investors. Tech mogul Joshua Kushner – whose elder brother Jared Kushner is married to President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump – is reportedly in negotiations to lead the deal through his Thrive Eternal fund.
The sale would generate additional income for FIFA, with funds deployed to distribute more money to its 211 national member associations, each currently receiving around £2m annually from FIFA, one source claimed.
UEFA Condemns the Proposed Sale
Upon learning of FIFA's intentions, UEFA swiftly condemned the sale, emphasizing that the organization lacked authority to execute such a transaction. An official statement declared: "This crosses a line that football's governing institutions should never cross. UEFA takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game."
The statement added: "The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA's to sell."
FIFA's Revenue and Infantino's Instagram Response
Thanks to the 2026 World Cup, FIFA is on track to deliver at least £9.7bn in revenue over its current four-year cycle, up from £5.7bn in the previous cycle. The next cycle is anticipated to generate a minimum of £10.5bn.
Posting on Instagram on Sunday, Infantino praised FIFA's efforts in staging this year's World Cup and hit back at critics. He wrote: "To everyone who missed our beautiful game... I say sorry that the matches are now over and sorry that you missed all that joy and togetherness. Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all."
Infantino added: "While you hide, we are exploring the streets of Canada, Mexico, and the United States... While you divide, we unite." He concluded by describing himself as "incredibly proud, as FIFA President, to have contributed, even a little, to this show."
