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Infantino sets deadline for World Cup investor plan
AP • July 30th, 2026 6:56 am
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has set a deadline for members as opposition to his scheme grows | Photo: AP
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has set a September 19 deadline for the 211 member federations to accept one-off $34 million (NZD) offers as part of a project to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
The proposed $US20 billion FIFA subsidiary, revealed on Tuesday and backed by Joshua Kushner's investment firm Thrive Capital, has run into a storm of criticism. UEFA plan to call their 55 member federations to an emergency online meeting later this week.
Infantino says FIFA's 211 member associations will receive $US40 million under plans to create a commercial subsidiary to run main events, including the World Cup, but has set a September 19 deadline if they want to access an initial $US20m.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the World Cup podium with Spanish players and Donald Trump | Photo: AP
He has told the associations that if they reject the plan their earnings will be $US2.7bn - almost 75 per cent less.
UEFA, European football's governing body, said in a statement: "Having held discussions with many stakeholders across the game, UEFA knows there is significant and growing opposition to FIFA's scheme."
Infantino set out the "singular and unique funding opportunity" in a letter detailing why he wants to create the $US20bn FIFA subsidiary - 20 per cent owned by private investors - that would run the soccer body's competitions and events like World Cups and Club World Cups.
"It is my duty and responsibility as FIFA president to present such game-changing opportunities to you, our members," Infantino wrote in the letter seen by The Associated Press.
Concerns about the plan have also been aired by soccer's ruling bodies in Asia and North America.
If the FIFA Forward Enterprise subsidiary is approved by a majority of the 211 members, they also each are promised $US20m in funding from the four-year commercial cycle tied to the men's 2030 World Cup.
That would lead, Infantino wrote, to "a pool of diverse international investors" joining Joshua Kushner's Thrive as the anchor investor.
If Infantino's plan is rejected, those members will get their previously promised $US10m over the next four years, his letter stated.
The cash difference on offer to FIFA members appears to be $US86m over 12 years compared to about $US36m in existing promised funding for rejecting the private equity deal.
Many national associations are likely to be tempted by the money and FIFA's one-member, one-vote system means the most powerful soccer nations on the field easily can be outvoted by those who rarely play top-level game.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "Football does not belong to investors. Once you have sold a piece of (the World Cup), you have sold out. Football belongs to the fans. It always has, and it always will."
