Concacaf joins criticism of Fifa plan to sell off World Cup stakes to private investors
Concacaf has become the second major football confederation, after Uefa, to publicly criticise Fifa's plan to sell stakes in a new commercial entity linked to the World Cup to private investors. In a strongly worded statement, the confederation said it had learned of the proposal only through media reports, expressing "deep concerns" about Fifa's governance and the lack of due process in a deal reportedly valued at $20bn.
Even Concacaf president Victor Montagliani, who helped deliver the 2026 World Cup and is one of Fifa's eight vice-presidents, appears to have been excluded from discussions, as was FA chair Debbie Hewitt. US firm Thrive Eternal, led by Joshua Kushner, has already been engaged to head the investor group, while Fifa's new entity, Fifa Forward Enterprise, set up with JP Morgan, aims to raise up to $4.2bn for development projects. Member associations face a 19 September deadline to opt in, with an initial payment of around $20m promised from January. Uefa has accused Fifa of "selling the soul of football" and plans emergency talks that could lead to legal action.
- Concacaf joins Uefa in slamming Fifa's $20bn World Cup investor sale plan
- Confederation says it learned of proposal only via media reports
- Members face 19 September deadline; Uefa considers legal action
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Fifa is the global governing body of football. It has announced a plan to sell stakes in a commercial company linked to the World Cup to private investors, with the deal reportedly valued at around $20bn. This matters because the World Cup is one of sport's most valuable properties, and private investors would gain a financial interest in how it operates.
Concacaf, the continental confederation responsible for football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, has joined Uefa (the European confederation) in criticising the plan. Both organisations have raised concerns about Fifa's governance and the process, saying that key football leaders were not properly consulted.
The investor group is being led by Thrive Eternal, a US firm headed by Joshua Kushner. Fifa has set a deadline of 19 September for national football associations to decide whether to participate, with those joining expected to receive an initial $20m payment from January. Uefa has indicated it may pursue legal action against the plan.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Proponents argue that the World Cup's scale and modern infrastructure requirements exceed what football governing bodies can generate independently. Private sector investment has become standard for major global sporting events, bringing capital expertise and operational efficiency; in this case, the arrangement directs $4.2bn toward football development worldwide. Structured commercial partnerships preserve Fifa's governance authority whilst funding vital investments that strengthen the sport globally.
The case against
Critics contend that the secretive process—with major confederations and Fifa officials learning of the proposal through media reports rather than proper consultation—violates fundamental governance principles. Beyond procedural concerns, selling stakes in football's most valuable asset to private investors risks surrendering strategic control to commercial interests. This raises essential questions about whether the sport will ultimately serve football's development or investor returns.