UEFA condemns FIFA plan to sell World Cup stakes

sportsJul 28, 2026562,032

UEFA condemned FIFA's proposal to invite private investment in its competitions, saying the plan to sell stakes in the World Cup "crosses a line" and that "the soul and governance of football are not assets to trade." FIFA says it intends to expand "football development funding" to more than $10 billion and create a commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, that would invite third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments. FIFA says the plan still needs a vote of its 211 member associations and that Thrive Eternal is expected to lead the proposed investor group. Thrive is an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner. FIFA says all member associations could access up to $20 million in one-off capital and that FIFA would retain control of FFE and exclusive authority over governance, competitions, the international match calendar and regulatory decisions. The Football Association said it was unaware of the plans when they were released. The issue is likely to be discussed at the next FIFA Council meeting in the autumn and around the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in December, which will feature Champions League winners Paris St-Germain.

BladeoftheSun

@bladeofthes.bsky.social

UEFA are suggesting starting a new Football Governing body to replace the corrupt FIFA. An excellent idea!

98445d ago

BladeoftheSun63

Absolutely got to happen, lets see FIFA try to function when all the best teams have left. Have two World Cups running at the same time and see which people watch. It won't be FIFA.

Dona Flaca7

The sport needs to go back to being a game for THE PEOPLE not for millionaires. They need to go to the streets to find new talent. Futbol was not about finding talent at rich kid schools.

Greensleeves7

Definitely. FIFA has clearly gone over to the dark side....

sageboomer.bsky.social3

UEFA MUST make public their lack of trust with FIFA including a threat to boycott the 2030 World Cup in Morrocco, Spain and Portugal. It has to start NOW. Don't let FIFA stay in control. I doubt the world knows that Infantino rented office space in trump tower and NO employee ever arrived!! FRAUD

Dr AM Sardar3

Need to have weighted confederation voting to reflect the size of each league. Infantino bribes the smaller confederations & gets his way. A UEFA & Americas CONF breakaway World Cup would have every single World Cup winner.

Kevin MacKenzie2

#Europe has lost control of the #EurovisionSongContest, with its only sponsor #MoroccanoilIsraelLtd calling all the shots these last few years, the #EBU is but a passenger! Why do you think you cannot get #Israel kicked out? Is #Football, #FIFA and #UEFA also to be controlled by rogue sponsorships?

Quoting this

Bastiaan Brak4

Well, judging from the halfhearted responses of the national Football Association in Europe, Norway excepted, I really doubt this idea will go anywhere.

PB in BC 🇨🇦🏳️‍🌈 part Owner of Canada2

Dismantling FIFA is a great idea

Don Moynihan

@donmoyn.bsky.social

Jared Kushner's brother is proposing to help Infantino sell a World Cup stake. This would basically be a direct transfer from future fans to FIFA executives and investment firms. How corrupt can the organization get before fans turn away? www.nytimes.com/athletic/747...

21645d ago

Not Going Back7

It boggles the mind that he hasn't been ousted from FIFA. Who will be the buyer? The Trump/Kushner convicted felons crime family.

JoobileeJoolz4

There are no limits. The number of people that attended and watched, making it a viable business proposition at all, regardless of the outright fascism of one of the host nations, demonstrates that fans don't actually care as long as they get the circus.

Glasgow Socialist3

The World Cup was a commercial success for the elite , it was also a political disaster Take the hydration breaks and Justin Bieber and keep it Reinvesting profit into grassroots football is gone if Kushner & Trump get their grubby hoofs on it

Page 🗽2

It’s a supernova of corruption.

FredSmallman2

FIFA appears to be part of the international crime syndicate operating at the highest levels in the US

CoExist... plz...1

"How corrupt can the organization get before fans turn away?" applies to ALL pro sports

Quoting this

Brian Cook5

Professional sports worldwide have gotten so corrupt and infected by the likes of Draft Kings that they make thoroughbred horse racing look relatively clean by comparison.

nikedomelon.bsky.social2

If your asking an American audience There is no bottom for corruption in sports, most owners of Americans sport teams are already in bed with the Regime. 🇨🇦🇺🇦🇭🇺🇪🇸🇦🇱✌️ 🐸🦩🐸Resist

Miguel Delaney

@migueldelaney.bsky.social

The more I think about it, the more infuriating it is The president of Fifa just taking it upon himself to sell off stakes of a global tournament that has no need to sell anything off The sheer brazenness is something else www.youtube.com/watch?v=omg5...

14945d ago

John Morgan3

Just popping this back here… bsky.app/profile/leaf...

Goonernation1

JP Morgan tried to fuck with European football leagues by offering to majority fund the European Super League, stopped by the fans of English clubs - now in bed with Trump they are fucking with the World Cup. Time for UEFA to do something other than just issue statements. They owe it to the fans.

BeelerD 🏳️‍⚧️1

This is a scheme between Gianni and Trump.

Matt1

You should read States of Play by Miguel Delaney, Miguel Delaney.

Quoting this

Eoghan Walsh5

Real monkey's paw stuff here. We all wanted the Americans to take football more seriously. Only, now they do they're doing the most American thing possible to it - mining it for private equity profit.

Adrian Littlejohn

@yorksfella59.bsky.social

You've got to hand it to Trump's criminal apprentice... Infantino will never make as much personal cash out of the FIFA presidency as Trump does from the US. But a few tens of millions should give him a fairly comfortable retirement 🤮 NBhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c8xng9894z0o

6545d ago

Gort Frog2

Looks like someones retirement plan to me.. and screw what ever comes after for football...

Gordon2

According to sources in America I have just seen one of the the people to investors is Jarod Kushner if you don’t know the name look it up

gfoster251.bsky.social1

FIFA needs to be retired.

Tedthedrummerman1

He's a shifty sod. I hope they can find a way to oust him before he ruins football completely.

hokusai 🌊🌊🌊

@thebluenami.bsky.social

even more greed & corruption from #FIFA INFANTINO single-handedly trying to push FIFA to make more money by creating an operations subsidiary with investment from JARED KUSHNER (which means also the SAUDIS) 🤮 the RED CARD scandal wasn't bad enough? no end to this 💩 #blues shorturl.at/kBSNA

3445d ago

Larry Colvin1

Corruption happening in the open. #Blues

John Lubbock

@jwsal.bsky.social

Incredible levels of corruption from Gianni Infantino, who wants to privatise FIFA with help from Jared Kushner’s brother. European nations should start exploring alternatives to FIFA. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

4545d ago

John Lubbock2

Everyone hates Gianni, every time I was at a public World Cup game and his face came on screen, everyone booed. I hope he gets milkshaked on his stupid bald head.

James Steel1

UEFA should break away from FIFA, they’ll soon back down.

Glasgow Socialist1

6 continents if don’t include Antarctica so each Continent has tournaments under their own governing body (UEFA) and put forward 8 teams The 48 battle it out each continent being a group to pick from Call it the real World Cup with each continent getting an equal share of TV rights Or something

nlwa.bsky.social

@nlwa.bsky.social

It seems as though Fifa president Gianni Infantino has spent toooo much time with #DementiaDonny www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

4045d ago

MikeCalimari3

Time for football associations to quit FIFA for a new governing body.

A smøl pan-dimensional gnu (David)2

Great! The FiFAWorld Cup, brought to you by The Board of Peace, Palantir and Amazon! FFS!

Alan1

I don't think anyone wants 'The Macdonald's World Cup'

Lady Helen 🐾 💚& the black & white cat crew 😻😺😸1

This would be the worst thing to do ! 😕

Khashoggi's Ghost

@urocklive1.bsky.social

Trump probably wants a piece of this. He probably also wants them to call it the Trump World Cup.

4945d ago

James Steel

@jamessteel2008.bsky.social

UEFA should withdraw from FIFA, and play the Euros every two years. Watch how quickly FIFA backdown when the continent with the most TV money refuses to play in the World Cup.

4945d ago

Hoosier Pats Fan

@redstatedemocrat.bsky.social

FIFA is nothing more than a cash machine for Infantino and his corrupt friends. UEFA should leave FIFA. Without the European nations FIFA is not viable and would collapse.

3345d ago

Tariq Panja

@tariqpanja.bsky.social

Congressman James Raskin ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee,who called for Infantino to appear at a hearing, has now issued this statement highlighting potential conflict of interest with Trump in light of the World Cup sell off plan:

2045d ago

Matt Slater

@mjslater.bsky.social

Gianni Infantino has flooded the zone again. He wants to put all of the money-making bits of FIFA (ie the World Cup) into a new co & then sell 20% to investors. He thinks it will raise $10bn over next 4yrs. I think we can assume hydration breaks are staying. www.nytimes.com/athletic/747...

2244d ago

disappointed.bsky.social1

20% of it going straight to a Kushner according to Martin Ziegler

EconReporter

@econreporter.bsky.social

Uefa says Fifa plan for private investment in World Cup 'crosses line' "This crosses a line that football's governing institutions should never cross," Uefa said in a statement in response to those reports. "None of us are the owners of football. [The World Cup] is not Fifa's to sell."

1645d ago