Uefa says Fifa plan for private investment in World Cup 'crosses line'

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that Uefa has strongly objected to Fifa proposals to bring private investment into competitions run by football’s world governing body, with the World Cup included among the assets under discussion. The article says Uefa’s response followed reporting by the Financial Times and The Times on the plan.

According to BBC Sport, Fifa says the initiative is intended to increase football development funding to more than $10bn (£7.5bn), describing the aim as growing the game. The proposal would still need approval from Fifa’s member associations. The Times, as cited by the BBC, reported that the arrangements could potentially generate tens of millions of pounds for Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

Uefa’s public reaction was unusually forceful. The European governing body argued that football institutions do not own the game and said the World Cup should not be treated as something Fifa can sell. Its statement framed the issue as a fundamental governance concern rather than only a commercial dispute.

The development matters because the World Cup is the most prominent competition in global football and a central source of Fifa’s influence and revenue. Any move to involve private investors in Fifa competitions would raise questions about control, accountability and how income is distributed across the sport. Based on the BBC report, the proposal remains subject to member approval and no final outcome has been announced.