'Hands off our game': EU slams FIFA for selling World Cup

Published on

29/07/2026 - 13:15 GMT+2

The European Union has joined the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) in criticising FIFA’s controversial plan to launch a new commercial company with external investment to sell a stake in the World Cup.

“The relentless commercialisation of football has become corrosive,” EU Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef wrote on X on Wednesday. He added that a possible alignment of FIFA’s regulatory powers with the financial interests of private entities is a concern for the European Commission.

FIFA announced on Tuesday it plans to create a $20 billion (around €17.6 billion) subsidiary to run the World Cup and other events, offering stakes of up to ​20% to external investors. This would give FIFA members the chance “to access up to $20 million in one-off capital,” according to the statement on the plan.