{"id":22810,"date":"2026-07-31T06:20:35","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T01:20:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=22810"},"modified":"2026-07-31T06:20:35","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T01:20:35","slug":"fifas-american-arm-joins-european-nations-rejecting-private-investing-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=22810","title":{"rendered":"FIFA&#8217;s American Arm Joins European Nations Rejecting Private Investing Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\t<strong>UPDATED with the latest:<\/strong> The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), one of <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/fifa\/\" id=\"auto-tag_fifa\" data-tag=\"fifa\">FIFA<\/a>\u2019s six continental confederations that represents North America, Central America and the Caribbean, today flatly rejected a controversial plan to sell a 20% stake in the tournament to private investors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tConcacaf\u2019s 41 member associations <a href=\"https:\/\/www.concacaf.com\/competitions\/concacaf\/news\/statement-on-behalf-of-concacaf-and-its-41-member-associations\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">issued a statement<\/a> expressing \u201cdeep concerns about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal, the artificially short deadline imposed, and the absence of any review or approval by the relevant FIFA governance bodies.\u201d Further, the statement questioned \u201cthe need for private equity investment to fund new and existing FIFA Forward programs following the most profitable <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/fifa-world-cup\/\" id=\"auto-tag_fifa-world-cup\" data-tag=\"fifa-world-cup\">FIFA World Cup<\/a> in history.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tIndeed, The Guardian <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/18\/fifa-record-15bn-world-cup-revenue\" target=\"_blank\">reported<\/a> that the 2026 World Cup generated a record $15B in revenue, blasting through all expectations. The proposed minority stakes would reportedly raise $4.6B for the non-profit FIFA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tConcacaf directed their FIFA council members \u201cwith engaging FIFA to determine how existing vast FIFA reserves could be used to increase FIFA Forward funding for football development across our region.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tWhile the North, Central America and Caribbean confederation is important to the tournament \u2014 especially as a market for advertisers \u2014 it pales competitively to the leverage the European countries hold.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tOf the eight quarter finalists at this year\u2019s World Cup, six were <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/uefa\/\" id=\"auto-tag_uefa\" data-tag=\"uefa\">UEFA<\/a> members, and Spain won the tournament. There were similar statistics in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, and a World Cup without European participation would be a huge commercial and political hit to FIFA. What\u2019s more, the next World Cup is due to be held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with other games held in South America.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\t<strong>PREVIOUSLY at 8:32 a.m. PT: <\/strong>The governing body for European soccer has said all 55 of its member states will boycott the World Cup if FIFA pushes on with its controversial plan to sell stakes in the tournament to private investors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tUEFA\u2019s member associations Thursday voted to approve the boycott at an emergency meeting. The decision throws the world of soccer into chaos and <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/04\/european-super-league-chelsea-man-city-real-madrid-man-utd-1234740517\/\">has echoes of the controversial 2021 European Super League proposal<\/a>, which was abandoned after 48 hours.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\t\u201cWe unanimously and unequivocally reject Fifa\u2019s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other Fifa competitions to private investors,\u201d said a UEFA statement. \u201cThe World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football\u2019s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\t<strong>PREVIOUSLY, July 28: <\/strong>Controversial plans to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup to private investors have sparked a furious response from football authorities and politicians.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tUEFA, the body that governs European football, took the unprecedented step of releasing a statement condemning FIFA\u2019s plan, which involves creating a new entity that would house the commercial rights to its men\u2019s and women\u2019s tournaments. The World Cup \u201cis not FIFA\u2019s to sell,\u201d said UEFA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tJP Morgan Chase, the bank that financed the failed breakaway European Super League in 2021, is working with FIFA to create the business, which is being valued at around $20 billion, per various reports. Though the World Cup is not a commercial enterprise, the formation of FIFA Forward Enterprise would allow it to be exploited by private investors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tFIFA confirmed the plan to create FFE and said it would be the controlling shareholder, but the controversial governing body hopes to raise $4.2B by \u201ccarefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tThrive Capital, an investment firm led by <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/joshua-kushner\/\" id=\"auto-tag_joshua-kushner\" data-tag=\"joshua-kushner\">Joshua Kushner<\/a>, the brother of President <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" id=\"auto-tag_donald-trump\" data-tag=\"donald-trump\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2018s son-in-law Jared Kushner, has been approached about investing, it is reported. We have contacted Thrive for comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tInvestigations in the <em>Financial Times<\/em> and <em>The Times<\/em> newspapers first revealed the FFE plan, which comes on the back of the recent World Cup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tNew UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham was among notable names slamming FFE, writing that the World Cup is \u201cnot a product,\u201d and that \u201conce you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out.\u201d Even Sepp Blatter, the disgraced predecessor of FIFA President <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/gianni-infantino\/\" id=\"auto-tag_gianni-infantino\" data-tag=\"gianni-infantino\">Gianni Infantino<\/a>, wrote on social media: \u201cThe close relationship between the FIFA President and the US President has reached a financial dimension that is deeply damaging football. No one has the right to sell our game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tUnder-fire FIFA President Infantino stands to personally make millions from the deal by becoming its commissioner after his expected third term at football\u2019s governing body expires in 2031, the <em>Times<\/em> reported. We have contacted FIFA for comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tInfantino said FFE would see \u201cthe commercial side of the game [operate] as a focused, dedicated business, with its value shared more and better all around the world,\u201d with FIFA claiming more than $10B would be redistributed back to its 211 member associations following the deals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tThe recent World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico was heavily criticized in some quarters for the implementation of mandatory \u201chydration breaks,\u201d which effectively divided matches into quarters rather than the traditional halves. Also raising ire were Trump\u2019s intervention into the suspension of USMNT player Folarin Balogun and the extended half-time break in the Final to allow for musical performances. UEFA President Aleksander \u010ceferin boycotted that match in response to the various issues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tFIFA made record revenues from the tournament, which it has touted publicly. Critics say finances are being put before the best interests of the game.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\t<strong>UEFA considers World Cup boycott<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tIt has been reported today that UEFA members are meeting to discuss their response to FIFA\u2019s plan, with a boycott of the World Cup one serious option on the table. <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tWhile UEFA cannot stop it moving ahead, it is the strongest continental body in football with many of the world\u2019s top international teams hailing from the continent. <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tOf the eight quarter finalists at the World Cup, six were UEFA members, and Spain won the tournament. There were similar statistics in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, and a World Cup without European participation would be a huge commercial and political hit to FIFA. The next World Cup is due to be held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with other games held in South America.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tIn its statement in response to FFE, UEFA said: \u201cThis crosses a line that football\u2019s governing institutions should never cross. UEFA takes it extremely seriously. The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade \u2013 especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA\u2019s to sell.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tEuropean dominance of world football has been a sore point for many years, and the Swiss-born Infantino has consolidated his power base by redirecting more funding and support to Africa, the Americas and Asia. It is expected that FFE would need to be ratified by a majority of FIFA members, though there\u2019s no word on when or how the vote will take shape.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\t<em>Tom Tapp contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UPDATED with the latest: The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), one of FIFA\u2019s six continental confederations that represents North America, Central America and the Caribbean, today flatly rejected a controversial plan to sell a 20% stake in the tournament to private investors. Concacaf\u2019s 41 member associations issued a statement expressing&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22811,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2286809933.jpg?w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22810","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22810","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22810"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22810\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/22811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22810"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22810"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22810"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}