FIFA proposes plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, angering UEFA

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing FIFA’s announcement and Reuters, reported that football’s global governing body has proposed allowing private investors to buy minority stakes in a new commercial entity tied to the World Cup and other FIFA events. The plan, announced Tuesday and reported on July 29, 2026, would create a subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise valued at about $20bn, with FIFA offering up to 20 percent to outside investors while keeping a majority holding.

FIFA said the move could raise as much as $4.2bn, with net proceeds to be put back into football development. The proposal would still require approval from FIFA’s 211 member associations. According to the report, if the plan proceeds, the investor group is expected to be led by a vehicle founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, who is US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.

UEFA sharply opposed the idea, saying it represented a boundary football institutions should not cross and warning that the game’s governance and identity should not be treated as tradable assets. The dispute adds to existing tensions between FIFA and European football authorities over the commercial direction and control of the sport. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham also criticised the proposal, arguing on social media that the World Cup should not be sold to investors.

The debate follows the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the largest edition of the tournament. FIFA says the investment model would broaden participation and support inclusive growth, while critics fear it could further commercialise one of sport’s most important competitions.