Gianni Infantino sets deadline for federations to approve World Cup stake plan

sportsJul 30, 202637519

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has given the federation's 211 member associations until 19 September to approve a plan to sell stakes in FIFA competitions, offering an initial payment of $20 million and promising up to $40 million to each country once a deal is finalised. The plan would create a private commercial vehicle to run the World Cup and other tournaments, with investment advice from Greg Maffei and backing from Thrive Capital, led by Josh Kushner. Infantino frames the move as the "democratisation of football" and is pitching the upfront money as development funding for lower-income federations. Critics have reacted with incredulity and anger among fans, politicians and regional governing bodies, and editorial voices such as The Guardian called the proposal a serious breach of football's interests. Infantino's long-standing support in Africa, Asia and the Americas, plus FIFA's simple-majority voting rule, make the plan more likely to pass despite opposition. If approved, the move would permanently shift control and commercial revenues toward the new company, consolidating Infantino's influence and creating significant private investor stakes in the World Cup.

Olga Nesterova

@onestpress.onestnetwork.com

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is proposing to sell a minority stake of up to 20% in a new commercial subsidiary (modeled by Formula One) that would run the World Cup and other tournaments. 🧵

8045d ago

Olga Nesterova38

External investors — backed by Joshua Kushner's Thrive Capital (Jared’s younger brother) — would own up to 20%. Infantino set a September 19 deadline offering member federations up to $40M in funding if they approve.

Andrei Taranchenko2

Let me guess. The new co-owner will rhyme with "Dasha".

benway14.bsky.social1

Is there any way to invade Infantino and liberate football?

KitNCaboodle1

why would you sell off the one asset you have? Instead of getting 100% of the profits, you have to share with an entity that is going to demand more and more over time.

Quoting this

Dan Hon6

ahahahahahahaha (second post in Olga's thread names a Kushner as an investor)

Ruth Watson4

Trump's mob family presidency continues.

Andy Brown

@andybrown1951.bsky.social

This man has repeatedly shamed football by debasing the sport at the feet of Donald Trump. Now he wants to monetise his friendship with the corrupt rich. UEFA needs to set up an alternative world football association that belongs to the fans www.theguardian.com/football/202...

5945d ago

Quoting this

JLichdi4

Zieht die UEFA die Reissleine? Notwendig wär’s.

Kuntie Plopkins

@kuntieplopkins.bsky.social

You do realise that if Infantino gets his way, the FIFA World Cup will be renamed the Trump FIFA World Cup

5545d ago

biloxiblues.bsky.social3

I think the 'Golden trump Family Peace Prize Billionaire Dictator King of the World Cup' is better. And for an extra million each participant gets a golden ring, golden watch, golden necklace, a ride on the big plane and lunch with a special guest.

Saraswati1

Sadly, true. But that world cup won’t have any sense anymore (I mean, let’s face it : it hardly had any this time already…)

Paul Nelson1

I think they’ll have to rebrand it The American Cup since most of Europe, Asia and Africa will hopefully have pulled out of FIFA by then.

wonkavite.bsky.social1

Trump Fluffer World Cup seems more appropraite

Freda Smith1

TIFA, Trump International Football Association!

Wilf Thompson1

Trump on FIFA. Just imagine the stink (of corruption of course)

Pam Nash

@pamnashes.bsky.social

Remember when we believed we’d never have a worse FIFA President than Blatter? ‘Infantino's predecessor Blatter said: "The close relationship between the FIFA president & the US president has reached a financial dimension that’s deeply damaging football. No-one has the right to sell our game." ‘

3745d ago

Nathaniel Richards2

Worst FIFA President so far.

broderham.bsky.social1

Hands off our game, Caillou

Quoting this

The Liverpool Offside11

Sepp Blatter was just a smol bean who loved football and then grew up and discovered he quite enjoyed people giving him bribes. Gianni Infantino was just a smol bean who loved the idea of people giving him bribes and then grew up and discovered football was the perfect vehicle for that.

Tom Bogert

@tombogert.bsky.social

📺 Morning Footy on CBS Sports Golazo is also on YouTube today. Huge show. On Infantino plot to sell to private equity ... then latest news USMNT being close to sorting a return for Mauricio Pochettino on four-year deal And much more www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-c7...

3545d ago

Jorge A. Caballero, MD

@datadrivenmd.social

"FIFA announced on Tuesday proposals to set up a private company to run its competitions which would have links to the extended family of U.S. President Donald Trump."

2145d ago

Quoting this

stacy-marie ishmael10

Even CONCACAF (CONCACAF!) is asking a about "due process" on this one.

BUCKERS

@deathofbuckley.bsky.social

Just found out that Gianni Infantino is 56 years old and not, as I thought, 274 x

3345d ago

BUCKERS13

Somewhere there's a cave painting of Gianni Infantino which hasn't aged x

seanapwilliam.bsky.social1

His real name is Gianni Geriatrico.

The Unfinished1

He has the air of a man who sits bolt upright in bed each morning and says: “I’ll show them.”

Breezer-Innit #COYS #Proprioception

@nemeses666.bsky.social

Isn't bribing illegal? 'Fifa president Gianni Infantino has written to all 211 member associations saying they will receive $40m (£30m) if they back his controversial plan to sell off stakes in its major competitions' www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

1745d ago

OperaBunny4

FIFA is part of the Trump Crime Syndicate now. If laws or regulations get in the way, you either buy the judges or abolish/leave the relevant institution.

John Finagin3

It's as if the beautiful game has seen itself as so attractive it can make a fortune out of prostitution.

thecatsuncle.bsky.social1

Jonny Infant Ned’s to be told what is decent and honourable and what isn’t!

rfb71.bsky.social1

There's a reason FIFA is based in Switzerland.🤫

Kevin Hjortshøj O’Rourke

@kevinhorourke.eurosky.social

This is very good on why the FIFA story really matters www.thetimes.com/article/390d...

1345d ago

Matt Slater

@mjslater.bsky.social

Here’s our go at an FAQ document on Gianni Infantino’s latest wheeze: 💰 Who’s going to invest in this & why? 🤑 Who’s Joshua Kushner? 👑 Why does Infantino want this? ⚽️ What’s all this cash for? 🇪🇺 Who can stop this…& will they? Unlike FIFA, this one’s free… www.nytimes.com/athletic/747...

1145d ago

James Tyler

@jamestylerespn.bsky.social

What is Gianni Infantino playing at with his latest scheme, essentially putting the World Cup up for sale? Mark Ogden has some answers to the most pressing questions: www.espn.com/soccer/story...

1345d ago

Ianrobo

@ianrobo.bsky.social

So now just a pure bribe www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba... And note fifa not backing down

1346d ago

Trevor is ainm dom

@trevorlfc01.bsky.social

Again my response to Infantino would be to fuck off and take your mates in FIFA with you

1145d ago

Grumpy Philosopher

@stevecooke.org

Only Gianni Infantino would try to sell the World Cup to Donald Trump, without consulting anyone, whilst claiming it is for the good of the game.

1045d ago

Patrick Johnston 🇨🇦

@risingaction.bsky.social

So I asked Canada Soccer what they think of Gianni Infantino's idea and they basically said "uh we just got it so we need to think a little first" theprovince.com/sports/socce...

945d ago

CrankyCanucksFan 🇨🇦🏒3

Riiiight, because Infantino’s words were so nuanced and their meaning so opaque. More like they need time to decide if it’s worth trying to get in on the deal. 😠

consbegone.bsky.social3

Take a principled stand FFS!!!

Quoting this

Darren Russcher 🇨🇦2

FFS. This isn't hard. Stand up and show some leadership for once.

3 sources

bbc.co.ukGianni Infantino: Why Fifa president is pushing World Cup sell off plan thetimes.comGianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup theguardian.comThe Guardian view on selling off the World Cup: a red-card offence by Gianni Infantino | Editorial

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Gianni Infantino sets deadline for federations to approve World Cup stake plan

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