Gianni Infantino (foto: Getty Images)
FIFA is reportedly exploring the sale of a minority stake in a new company that would manage the World Cup, a proposal already being described as a "nuclear bomb" for football.
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FIFA president Gianni Infantino is considering one of the most controversial changes in football history. According to reports from The Times and the Financial Times, FIFA is exploring the sale of a minority stake in a new company that would manage its biggest competitions, including the FIFA World Cup.
Sources familiar with the discussions say FIFA could sell between 20 and 30 percent of the new commercial entity to private investors. The proposed company has reportedly been valued at around £15 billion (about $20 billion), making it one of the largest commercial deals in the history of global sport.
The project is reportedly being advised by JPMorgan, while investment firm Thrive Eternal, led by Joshua Kushner, is in talks to lead the investor group. Reports also claim that figures close to the administration of Donald Trump have been consulted during the process.
Under the proposal, FIFA would retain majority ownership and continue to control football's sporting decisions. However, the new company would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other major FIFA competitions. FIFA has confirmed that it is reviewing the proposal and says any decision would require approval from its member associations.
One of the most controversial aspects of the plan is the possibility that each of FIFA's 211 member associations would receive a stake in the new company. Those shares could either be kept or sold, providing national associations with a significant financial windfall.
The proposal has already triggered a strong backlash across European football. UEFA issued a sharply worded statement warning that football's governing institutions should never treat the sport as a tradable asset.
"This crosses a line that football's governing institutions should never cross. The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade," UEFA said.
Critics also fear that private investors would demand larger tournaments, more frequent World Cups or commercially attractive host nations to maximise profits. One senior football figure described the proposal as a "nuclear bomb" for the sport because of its potential impact on the international calendar and the governance of world football.
The reports also claimed that Infantino could eventually take on a senior executive role in the new company after his FIFA presidency ends in 2031. FIFA has denied that such a position has ever been discussed, while insisting that any new commercial structure would remain under FIFA's control.
The proposal comes only weeks after FIFA celebrated the financial success of the 2026 World Cup, with Infantino announcing that the governing body expects to exceed $15 billion in revenue during the current four-year cycle.