Fifa president Gianni Infantino is facing significant opposition and calls to resign after unveiling a controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup through a newly formed company, Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE). The proposal aims to create a privately owned entity valued at approximately $20 billion to hold commercial rights over Fifa’s global competitions, with the intention of raising up to £3.1 billion from private investors. Thrive Capital, a venture firm led by Joshua Kushner—brother of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law—is poised to be the lead investor with a 20% stake.
Despite Infantino’s insistence that the move is merely a consultation and that “nobody is selling football,” the plan has triggered widespread condemnation from football governing bodies, senior Fifa officials, and political leaders. The Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the proposal as an “outrageous suggestion” and said Infantino is “the wrong man to lead the organisation.” Burnham was the first major world leader to publicly question Infantino’s leadership amid the growing crisis.
Opposition to the plan has coalesced around the major football confederations Europe’s Uefa, Asia’s AFC, and North, Central America and the Caribbean’s Concacaf. These bodies collectively represent 143 of Fifa’s 211 member associations, and their united dissent makes it highly unlikely that the plan will secure the 106 votes needed for approval by the September 19 deadline. Uefa has led calls for a boycott of future Fifa tournaments if the plan proceeds, warning that external investor ownership would “change football forever.”
The backlash escalated with the resignation of two senior Fifa officials. Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser and member of the World Cup White House task force, left the organisation citing his firm opposition to the proposal, calling it “a bad deal for football” and emphasizing that Fifa’s priority should be protecting the sport rather than maximizing commercial returns. Shortly after, Fifa’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour publicly condemned the plan as a “unilateral exercise of power” characterized by a lack of transparency, trust, and respect, although he did not resign.
Infantino remains defiant and plans to move forward with the strategy despite the internal revolt and widespread criticism. The move has deepened existing tensions between Infantino and several major football stakeholders who have accused him of ignoring the broader football community’s concerns. Some experts view the proposal as a high-risk gamble reminiscent of Infantino’s close ties to Donald Trump and a reflection of his confrontational leadership style.
Beyond concerns over ownership, the plan dovetails with ongoing discussions about expanding the World Cup from 48 to 64 teams, a measure currently under review by an independent agency chosen by Fifa members. The final evaluation is expected in early September, just before the vote on the FFE initiative.
While African and Oceanian football associations have adopted a neutral stance, South America’s Conmebol appears sympathetic to expansion and may support the broader agenda. Meanwhile, Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is reportedly preparing a challenge to Infantino’s presidency in upcoming elections, signaling further potential leadership upheaval.
As the September vote approaches, the fate of Infantino’s plan and possibly his tenure depends on whether he can overcome resistance from the sport’s largest confederations and restore confidence in his leadership amid what many describe as one of Fifa’s most challenging periods in recent history.