Infantino sets deadline for FIFA offer in Kushner-backed World Cup plan

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing reporting by The Associated Press, reports that FIFA President Gianni Infantino has given the organization’s 211 member federations until September 19 to decide on a proposal that would provide each federation a one-time $20m payment. The offer is tied to a plan to create a $20bn FIFA subsidiary that would manage FIFA competitions and events, including the World Cup and Club World Cup, with private investors holding a 20 percent stake.

According to the report, the proposal is backed by Thrive Capital, the investment firm led by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, who is the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. Infantino described the plan in a letter to members as an exceptional funding opportunity and said J.P. Morgan would lead the process of bringing in additional international investors. If the proposal is rejected, member federations would instead receive a previously planned $10m over the next four-year cycle linked to the 2030 men’s World Cup.

The plan has drawn swift criticism from football bodies and political figures. UEFA objected that the World Cup should not be sold and is expected to convene its 55 members for an emergency online meeting. CONCACAF said it was worried about the process, while the Asian Football Confederation said its members had not been given a proper chance to review the matter before it became public.

The dispute matters because FIFA’s competitions are among the most valuable assets in global sport, and selling a stake in their commercial future could reshape football governance. The report notes that Infantino has previously pursued contentious changes, including a proposed biennial World Cup.