FIFA opens the door to private investment in the World Cup; UEFA responds: No one owns football | OneFootball

FIFA, the global governing body of football, and UEFA, the governing body of European football, remain on a collision course. The latest episode between the two centres on FIFA’s reported intention to open the door to private investment in the World Cup.

In an official statement sent to newsrooms, FIFA clarified that it aims to 'increase funding for football development to more than 10 billion US dollars, subject to approval by FIFA’s Member Associations (MAs).'

The organisation says this increase would provide $20 million (US dollars) per association as exceptional and immediate funding for special projects under FIFA’s new Fast-Forward Programme (FFFP), $20 million per MA in advance funding for the 2027 to 2030 period (currently budgeted at seven million euros), a further $22 million in advance for 2031-2034, and another $24 million US dollars in advance for 2035-2038.

"Our next phase of growth requires a structure designed for the purpose, in which football’s commercial side operates as a focused and dedicated business, with its value shared more widely and effectively around the world. Every FIFA Member Association should have the opportunity to secure a fair share of the funding available to shape its own future, deciding for itself rather than relying on third parties. This is the democratisation of football worldwide," controversial FIFA president Gianni Infantino claimed.

In the same statement, FIFA explained that all of this would be delivered through FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new FIFA-owned and FIFA-controlled subsidiary that will consolidate the organisation’s commercial and events operations. FIFA says it intends to maintain 'exclusive control of the FFE and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, the match calendar and all regulatory and sporting decisions.'

The organisation also states that it aims to raise up to '4.2 billion US dollars later this year to fund the FFFP, based on an initial equity valuation of 20 billion US dollars'. To do so, it plans a 'careful selection of long-term investors who will acquire minority, non-controlling stakes in the FFE.'

"These investors will be selected on the basis of clear long-term, governance and strategic criteria. They will represent a geographically diverse group that reflects the global nature of football, acting as long-term minority partners who can contribute capital and commercial expertise in support of FIFA’s mission to grow the game worldwide. FIFA will retain exclusive control of the FFE through majority representation on the board and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, the international match calendar and all regulatory and sporting decisions," the statement reads.

This would affect the entire commercial rights framework - including television broadcasting, sponsorship, ticket sales and licensing - for competitions organised by FIFA, such as the World Cup, but not only that, as it would also cover all youth and senior tournaments, for men and women.

UEFA condemns the 'sale of football'

Following the statement, UEFA, which had already been opposing several decisions promoted by FIFA, especially during preparations for and the staging of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, has publicly condemned the move. Aleksander Ceferin’s organisation believes FIFA is trying to sell football.

"This crosses a line that the institutions governing football should never cross. UEFA takes this very seriously. So should every national football association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, fans, governments and everyone who cares about the future of football. The soul and governance of football are not assets to be traded — especially without any transparency about who stands to profit financially. None of us owns football. It is not for FIFA to sell it."