FIFA主席詹尼·因蒂诺公布了一项计划，拟通过创建名为FIFA Forward Enterprise的商业子公司来运营世界杯等重大赛事 [1]。该子公司初始估值达200亿美元，计划融资最多42亿美元，并向包括Joshua Kushner旗下的Thrive Eternal在内的私人投资者开放少数非控制性股份 [1]。JP Morgan将担任该交易的顾问 [1]。
根据该方案，FIFA的211个成员联合会将各获得一次性最多2000万美元的资本收益 [1]。因蒂诺还承诺在2027-30周期内向每个成员提供2000万美元——相比之前承诺的800万美元有所增加——随后的周期分别提高至2200万和2400万美元 [1]。这一计划的实施需要获得全部211个成员的批准，但目前尚未公布具体的辩论和决议时间表 [1]。
该提议引发了欧洲足球界的强烈反对。欧足联(UEFA)发表声明表示，"足球的灵魂和治理权不是交易资产" [1]，并警告此举违反了足球治理的基本原则。值得注意的是，因蒂诺在2018年曾推动过与日本软银的250亿美元交易，但同样遭到UEFA的强烈反对而最终失败 [1]。本届世界杯为FIFA创造了约120亿美元的创纪录收入 [1]。
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced plans to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise, a commercial subsidiary valued at approximately $20 billion designed to operate major tournaments including the World Cup.[1] The initiative seeks to raise up to $4.2 billion by offering minority, non-controlling stakes to long-term private investors, with prospective backers including Thrive Eternal, the investment vehicle led by Joshua Kushner.[1] JP Morgan is serving as an advisor on the transaction.[1]
Under the proposal, all 211 FIFA member associations would receive one-time capital payments of up to $20 million each.[1] Infantino has committed to providing member federations $20 million during the 2027–2030 cycle—an increase from the previously pledged $8 million—with subsequent periods delivering $22 million and $24 million respectively.[1] The plan builds on record revenues, with the most recent World Cup generating approximately $12 billion in income for FIFA.[1]
The proposal has encountered significant resistance. UEFA issued a statement declaring that "the soul and governance of football are not trading assets," expressing strong opposition to the commercialization framework.[1] The initiative marks a renewed push by Infantino toward privatization; he previously championed a $25 billion transaction with Japan's SoftBank in 2018, which failed following intense UEFA backlash.[1] The plan requires approval from all 211 member associations, though no timeline for debate or voting has been established.[1]