FIFA's controversial plan to sell up to 20% stakes in a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to private investors for an estimated $4.2 billion out of a $20 billion valuation, has faced strong backlash. The FFE would manage commercial rights for events like the World Cup. FIFA aims for this initiative to boost funding for its 211 member associations, potentially providing each with a one-off payment of $20 million and increasing their regular allocation during the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million. Prior to this, the FIFA Forward development program provided $2.8 billion across member associations through 2022, with a 30% increase for 2023-2026. The new proposal could make $10 billion available for development starting in 2027, compared to an estimated $2.7 billion without it.
UEFA, representing 55 national teams, has unequivocally threatened to boycott all FIFA competitions if the plan proceeds, stating, "The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product." This stance was echoed by CONCACAF (41 members) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC, 46 members). Collectively, these three confederations represent 143 of FIFA's 211 member associations, making it highly unlikely that President Gianni Infantino will secure the simple majority (106 votes) needed for approval. A senior adviser to Infantino, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned, calling the plan "a bad deal for football" that would "mortgage football's future."
Despite the widespread opposition, FIFA insists it will proceed with an "open and democratic" consultation process, maintaining that "nobody is selling football." FIFA set a September 19 deadline for federations to accept the proposal and receive an initial $20 million payment by January 1. The organization claims the FFE is designed to allow member associations to take ownership of football's commercial opportunities without compromising its governance. FIFA stated that without the support of its member associations, FFE would not be established and its commercial activities would remain unchanged.
