Talk of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which has been expanded to 48 teams, has barely subsided, but further developments regarding the future of the tournament are already being discussed and have been met with intense backlash.
Although the trophy held by Spain, which defeated Argentina in the final, still shines brightly, this year’s tournament also had its dark spots.
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Now, soccer’s world governing body FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino are facing further criticism following the announcement of plans to sell stakes in future World Cups and other events to private investors.
FIFA’s plans have been criticized by everyone from European soccer governing body UEFA to Britain’s new prime minister, Andy Burnham. There was also a proposal for a boycott by UEFA.
Al Jazeera Sports looks at what the latest proposals on FIFA’s desk mean.
What are Gianni Infantino and FIFA’s new World Cup plans?
FIFA on Tuesday announced plans to sell stakes in future World Cups and other events to private investors in a bid to maximize revenue for the sport.
The proposal is to create a $20 billion subsidiary to run the World Cup and other events.
FIFA has said it will maintain a majority share in the newly created FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) system, meaning it will continue to have control over football’s governance, competitions, match calendar, regulations and sporting decisions.
However, as part of the new offer, a minority stake will be sold to outside investors to raise up to $4.2 billion.
Why would Infantino and FIFA want to sell World Cup berths?
In the run-up to the 2026 World Cup, debate has raged for months over whether FIFA’s ticket pricing is keeping fans away from what has long been considered the “nation’s game.”
FIFA defended the World Cup as a major source of revenue that supports soccer around the world, from the sport’s grassroots to the organization of major international events.
This latest proposal is FIFA’s attempt to further expand its revenue potential.
How will the new plan for the FIFA World Cup work?
FIFA tournaments have already raised billions of dollars, primarily from broadcast rights, sponsorships and other commercial deals.
This new commercial subsidiary, FFE, will expand beyond traditional financing methods and will be similar to the franchise model that many sports are currently turning to.
The Indian Premier League (IPL), a T20 cricket tournament, was one of the first competitions to exploit the full potential of the franchise model and sell team stakes in the newly established competition.
On Wednesday, IPL, which was only founded in 2008, announced that its value has increased by more than 11% this year to 20.6 billion.
Its competitive teams are majority-owned by investors, so they have significant influence over how they operate.
Other models, including the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) Hundred, an attempt to rival the IPL, have sold minority ownership of teams.
As a result, the ECB retains control of the competition, which is what FIFA is proposing to sell privately for its share of the World Cup and its events.
Nevertheless, stocks are stocks, and whether it’s cricket’s The Hundred or the FIFA World Cup, new investors will at least expect to be heard when it comes to decision-making.
This is where concerns arise about the proposal.
Who might invest in the World Cup and other FIFA events?
FIFA said US venture capital firm Thrive Eternal has been tapped to lead a proposed group of investors.
The vehicle was founded by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Potential investors will then participate in FIFA events through Thrive Eternal.
What benefits does FIFA claim if the World Cup and event planning is successful?
FIFA said all net profits should be reinvested in football and all countries should benefit from the sport’s growing profitability.
“Soccer is the most popular sport in the world,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.
“Parts of the game have turned their popularity into incredible commercial value, and we celebrate that success and hope it continues, as it improves the game as a whole.”
“Our job is to enable the rest of the world of football to grow together. FIFA exists to support sustainable and inclusive development in all corners of the world.”
“It’s not FIFA that sells”: What are UEFA and the British Prime Minister’s reactions to Infantino’s World Cup plans?
FIFA is already at loggerheads with national and continental governing bodies during the 2026 World Cup. European powerhouse UEFA was the first to voice its opposition to the new proposal.
UEFA said: “This crosses a line that football’s governing body should never cross.”
“UEFA takes this very seriously, so do all national football associations, and so do all parties who care about the future of the game.
“The soul and governance of football is not a tradable asset. There is zero transparency, especially about who benefits financially. None of us owns football. It is not FIFA that sells it.”
Andy Burnham, who just replaced Keir Starmer as British Prime Minister last week, wrote about X: “Let me be clear: Football does not belong to investors. Football belongs to the people who fill the stands and stand on the touchline every week, rain or shine.”
“The World Cup is not a product. The World Cup is the greatest competition in world sport, and it’s never something someone sells. Dress up your deal however you like. Once some of the product sells, it’s sold out.”
“Football belongs to the fans, it always has been and always will be,” he added.
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Football (CONCACAF) said on Wednesday it had not been informed of FIFA’s proposed sale of shares to outside investors and was “deeply concerned” by the lack of due process.
What needs to happen next in FIFA’s World Cup plans and will UEFA boycott?
Any changes would need to be approved by a vote of FIFA’s 211 member countries.
Of these, 55 countries are within UEFA’s jurisdiction.
The European agency is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting later this week to discuss the proposal.
If FIFA implements such a plan, one of the possible responses UEFA may take would include boycotting FIFA competitions.
Europe, which makes up just over a quarter of all FIFA member countries, has won six of the past eight World Cups.
Argentina and Brazil were the only teams to prevent a European sweep at the time, and in fact are the only countries outside Europe to win the World Cup since fellow South American Uruguay won their second and final title in 1950.
What’s the latest on Infantino and FIFA’s World Cup proposal?
Infantino set a September 19 deadline for the 211 member federations to accept a one-off offer of $20 million as part of a project to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.
Infantino on Wednesday cited a “unique and unique financing opportunity” in a letter detailing why he wants to create a $20 billion FIFA subsidiary that will be 20% owned by private investors.
“As president of FIFA, it is my duty and responsibility to provide our members with the opportunity to change this game,” Infantino said in a letter obtained by The Associated Press.
What are the main criticisms of the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The main criticism of the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, has been the pricing. From tickets to transport, average-paid soccer fans around the world complained that their favorite game was being priced out.
UEFA said the decision to suspend American striker Folarin Balogun for a red card during the World Cup “undermined the integrity and credibility of the match.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said Balogun called Infantino about the suspension of the forward, who was scheduled to play for the U.S. team in the next game against Belgium.
FIFA also faced backlash over its hydration break midway through the first half. Critics said they were a money-making opportunity for broadcasters and disrupted the traditional flow of the game.
