Fifa abandoned plans to sell a minority stake in the World Cup after strong opposition, including potential boycotts and calls for Gianni Infantino to resign. The proposal drew attention because it reflected growing interest from technology investors in major sports properties, which they view as resilient to disruption by artificial intelligence.

Thrive Eternal, an investment arm linked to Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital, reportedly considered a $4.2bn (£3.1bn) initial investment through Fifa’s proposed Forward Enterprise structure. The firm argues that sport’s traditions, identity and shared experiences cannot readily be replicated by technology; it already has interests in baseball and is reportedly considering an NBA investment. Critics say such deals raise governance concerns, although private-equity investment in sport is becoming increasingly common.