FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to establish a $20 billion commercial entity for the World Cup, open to private investment, has triggered a sharp rebuke from UEFA.
The European football confederation has rejected the plan, viewing the introduction of private capital—including potential involvement from the family of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner—as a threat to the integrity and governance of the sport.
This marks the second major attempt by Infantino to privatize football assets, following a controversial multi-billion dollar expansion project proposed in 2018.
The conflict highlights a deepening rift between FIFA’s global commercial ambitions and UEFA’s protective stance over European football’s traditional structure.
UEFA’s opposition suggests that any move to dilute control of the World Cup’s commercial rights will face significant institutional resistance.
The proposed entity aims to streamline the tournament’s commercial operations, but critics argue it risks commodifying the sport’s most prestigious event.