FIFA said Friday it will continue consulting its 211 member associations on a controversial proposal to bring private investment into the commercial arm of the World Cup and other major tournaments, brushing aside mounting opposition from UEFA and other continental confederations while insisting that "nobody is selling football."
The governing body defended its plan after UEFA unanimously voted to boycott all FIFA competitions for as long as the proposal remains active, while CONCACAF formally rejected the initiative and the Asian Football Confederation raised concerns over the process and its potential consequences for the global game.
FIFA and UEFA logos and silhouettes of people are seen in this illustration taken July 30, 2026. (Reuters Photo)
At the center of the dispute is FIFA's proposal to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new commercial subsidiary valued at about $20 billion that would oversee the organization's revenue-generating activities, including broadcasting rights, sponsorships, ticketing, licensing and the delivery of flagship tournaments such as the men's and women's World Cups and the Club World Cup.
Under the plan, FIFA would retain permanent majority ownership, full governance authority and exclusive control over sporting and regulatory decisions, while offering outside investors a minority stake of about 20% to 21% in exchange for up to $4.2 billion in new capital.
