Gianni Infantino is reportedly seriously considering selling shares of the FIFA World Cups to private investors. UEFA, the European football governing body, has already reacted to this idea from the FIFA president, rejecting it outright.

To do this, a company would be created to acquire the commercial rights to the main competitions of the international football federation: the men's and women's World Cups and the Club World Cup, according to the English media The Times.

Such an agreement could increase pressure to expand the number of teams participating in a World Cup (already raised this summer to 48 countries and planned to reach 64) or to hold the tournament more frequently.

Private investors could initially acquire between 20 and 30% of the shares for several billion US dollars. FIFA would remain the majority shareholder. The 211 member associations of the world governing body would also receive minority stakes, which they could retain or sell.

“Football is not for sale”

UEFA strongly criticized the reports in a statement. “This crosses a line that football's governing bodies should never cross. The soul and direction of football are not commodities – especially not with such opacity regarding the financial beneficiaries. Football belongs to no one. It is not for sale to FIFA.”

According to the Times article, citing several sources close to the matter, individuals from the Trump administration are also involved. The Financial Times reports that tech investor Joshua Kushner, whose brother Jared is married to Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump's daughter, is in talks to lead the investment through his fund, Thrive Eternal. FIFA is reportedly collaborating with the investment bank JP Morgan.

Such an agreement would also have repercussions for Infantino's role at FIFA: if the model is implemented, the 56-year-old Swiss businessman could lead the new entity as commissioner or CEO after the end of his last term as FIFA president, which is due to end in 2031.

Infantino had already attempted a similar approach in 2018, seeking to conclude a multi-billion dollar deal with Saudi investors for the Club World Cup and a Nations League. That deal did not receive sufficient support within FIFA.