(L/R) Argentina’s President Javier Milei looks on as FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the inaugural meeting of the “Board of Peace” hosted by US President Donald Trump at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, DC, on February 19, 2026. President Trump on Thursday gathers allies to inaugurate the “Board of Peace,” his new institution focused on progress on Gaza but whose ambitions reach much further. Around two dozen world leaders or other senior officials have come to Washington for the meeting — including several of Trump’s authoritarian-leaning friends and virtually none of the European democrats that traditionally sign on to US initiatives. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that the proposed launch of a private subsidiary to expoit the commercial benefits of the World Cup was “an opportunity but not an obligation”.
A proposal to sell stakes in FIFA’s major competitions sparked disbelief and outrage globally since it was revealed Tuesday, but Infantino defended the idea, saying too little of football’s commercial value reached the parts of the game that need it most.
“FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE, is actually a proposal, an offer. It’s part of a democratic process – a consultation process – and, above all, it is an opportunity but not an obligation,” Infantino said in a video released Wednesday evening.
