Amaju Pinnick, former president of the Nigeria Football Federation, has publicly endorsed FIFA’s proposal to sell a 20 per cent stake in the commercial rights to the World Cup and other major tournaments.
His support arrives as the governing body seeks to secure backing for a transaction valued at more than $4 billion, which would mark a significant shift in how the world’s premier football competition is financed and managed.
The move to bring in private investors has encountered sharp resistance from two of FIFA’s most powerful continental confederations, UEFA and CONCACAF.
These groups have raised concerns about the potential dilution of their influence and the long-term implications of privatizing a portion of the tournament’s commercial assets.
Pinnick’s endorsement provides a notable counterweight to that opposition, signaling that not all regional stakeholders view the deal as a threat to the sport’s governance structure.
FIFA is moving forward with the plans despite the pushback, aiming to unlock capital for future tournaments and infrastructure development.