UEFA and CONCACAF reject FIFA private investment proposal
UEFA and CONCACAF have rejected FIFA’s proposal to sell private investors minority interests in a new company controlling its commercial rights and tournament operations, with Europe’s 55 national associations announcing they will boycott FIFA competitions while the plan remains under consideration.
The two confederations announced their opposition on Thursday, representing a combined 96 national associations.
The proposal would create FIFA Forward Enterprise, a FIFA-owned subsidiary responsible for commercializing and organizing the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments.
FIFA plans to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling minority, non-controlling interests in the company, which would be valued at $20 billion. Broadcast, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing rights would also be placed under the subsidiary.
UEFA demanded that the proposal be abandoned entirely and that FIFA provide binding assurances that its governance and competitions will never be opened to private ownership. Until then, none of its national teams will participate in any FIFA competition.
The boycott could keep European teams out of future World Cups and other international tournaments if the dispute is not resolved.
CONCACAF, which represents 41 associations across North America, Central America and the Caribbean, also rejected the proposal but did not announce a boycott. Instead, it instructed its representatives on the FIFA Council to oppose the plan and examine whether FIFA’s existing reserves could be used to increase development funding.
FIFA unveiled the plan on Tuesday as a way to provide more than $10 billion for football development over the next four years. Each of its 211 member associations would receive $20 million between 2027 and 2030, up from the currently budgeted $8 million, and could seek an additional one-time payment of up to $20 million for infrastructure and other projects.
UEFA said it was conceived in secret and brought close to approval without meaningful consultation, while CONCACAF cited an unusually short deadline and the lack of prior review by FIFA’s governing bodies.
“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product,” UEFA said. “The World Cup is not for sale.”
UEFA also argued that allowing outside investors into FIFA’s commercial and tournament operations would create pressure to prioritize financial returns when deciding competition formats and the international calendar.
“The need for private equity investment to fund new and existing FIFA Forward programs following the most profitable FIFA World Cup in history was questioned,” CONCACAF said. “The discussion reinforced the need for greater transparency and proper governance.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday that the proposal was a “golden opportunity” to expand football development worldwide, saying participation would be voluntary.
“It is simply an offer, not an obligation,” Infantino said. “The choice belongs to our FIFA Member Associations.”
The proposal can only move forward with support from a majority of FIFA’s 211 member associations and approval from the FIFA Council.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
