FIFA abandons plan to sell World Cup rights stake
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FIFA president Gianni Infantino has abandoned plans to sell a minority stake in a company controlling World Cup commercial rights to private investors after opposition from within football. The decision removes the immediate risk of a boycott by European associations and ends a proposal criticised for potentially giving outside investors a lasting interest in football’s most valuable competitions.
The proposed subsidiary was valued at $20 billion and would have included the men’s and women’s World Cups and Club World Cups, with investors expected to receive a 20% stake. A firm founded by Joshua Kushner had been identified as the prospective anchor investor, while senior FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest; critics also questioned why FIFA, with substantial reserves and reported World Cup-related revenue of $15 billion over four years, needed to sell a permanent stake.
- FIFA has dropped plans to sell a World Cup rights stake.
- Opposition had raised the prospect of a European boycott.
- Critics said FIFA did not need outside investment.
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FIFA is football’s global governing body. It organises the men’s and women’s World Cups, which are among the sport’s largest events, and sells the television, sponsorship and marketing rights connected to them.
Gianni Infantino has led FIFA since 2016. National football associations are FIFA’s members, including the European bodies that represent many of the game’s wealthiest countries and clubs, and their support is important for FIFA’s competitions to operate smoothly.
A minority stake would have allowed outside investors to share in a company holding commercial rights linked to future tournaments. Supporters of such arrangements can see them as a way to raise money, while opponents may be concerned about private investors having a lasting interest in income generated by major football events.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of exploring private investment could argue that a minority stake in a dedicated commercial subsidiary would unlock capital, expertise and long-term partners without relinquishing FIFA’s control of its competitions. They may see it as a way to invest more rapidly in women’s football, youth development and smaller member associations, while sharing some commercial risk and improving the professional management of increasingly complex global events.
The case against
Opponents could argue that FIFA’s World Cups are public sporting institutions in spirit and already generate ample revenue, so there is little justification for selling a permanent share of their future income to private investors. They may regard the proposal as risking conflicts between profit incentives and football’s wider interests, reducing accountability and compromising the ability of member associations to shape competitions that belong to the global game.
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Originally published by NPR as “FIFA scraps controversial deal to sell stakes in World Cup to private investors”.