Fifa Confirms Plans to Sell World Cup Stakes to Private Investors
UKPulse Sport Desk
Fifa has confirmed its intention to sell stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors, potentially including Joshua Kushner, brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law.
- Fifa confirmed on Tuesday its plans to sell stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors.
- The investors would buy into a new $20bn company, Fifa Forward Enterprise, which would manage commercial rights and operational delivery.
- The plans have drawn opposition from Uefa and Concacaf.
Fifa confirmed on Tuesday its intention to sell stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors. These investors may include Joshua Kushner, the brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The proposed deal would see investors acquire stakes in a new $20bn company, Fifa Forward Enterprise. This new entity would be responsible for selling all of Fifa’s commercial rights, including ticketing, and would oversee the “operational delivery” of World Cups.
The plans have met with opposition from Uefa, European football’s governing body, and Concacaf, the equivalent body for North and Central America. Fifa President Gianni Infantino published a 15-page Instagram post on Monday, bemoaning “hate and false rumours” during the recent men’s World Cup.
Why this matters: The sale of stakes to private investors could lead to increased pressure for more frequent and larger tournaments, potentially disrupting the international game's calendar and domestic leagues.