FIFA主席因凡蒂诺提议创建一家价值20亿美元的商业子公司FIFA Forward Enterprise，向包括Joshua Kushner旗下Thrive Capital在内的私人投资者出售世界杯等重大赛事的运营权[1][2][4]。该融资计划目标今年融资最高42亿美元[4]。因凡蒂诺向成员协会施加压力，承诺同意该提案的协会将获得4000万美元资金，但拒绝者的资金将削减近75%[1]。FIFA已向211个成员协会设定9月19日的截止期限要求书面支持[1][4]。
欧洲足球协会联盟（UEFA）及多个足球组织对该方案提出强烈反对。UEFA称该计划"越过红线"，威胁足球的"灵魂和治理"[1]，并表示"足球不是FIFA的资产可以出售。足球的灵魂和管理权不是可交易的资产"[2]。UEFA已召集紧急会议讨论应对方案，包括潜在的世界杯抵制[1]。德国足协主席贝恩德·诺伊恩多夫表示，如果UEFA反对，"不会有任何投资者愿意继续这个项目"[4]。因凡蒂诺则称该项目是"全球足球发展的黄金机会"[4]。
若方案获批，FIFA可在2027年起提供100亿美元用于发展，每个足球协会可获得2000万美元一次性快速前进基金，加上2027至2030周期内的常规FIFA Forward项目资金[4]。如不批准，FIFA预计发展资金约27亿美元[4]。
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed establishing FIFA Forward Enterprise, a commercial subsidiary valued at $20 billion, to oversee major sporting events including the World Cup.[1][2][4] The plan involves selling minority stakes to private investors, with Joshua Kushner's Thrive Capital positioned as a leading bidder.[2][3] The initiative aims to raise as much as $4.2 billion this year through private equity funding.[4]
To secure support, Infantino has set a September 19 deadline for FIFA's 211 member associations to approve the proposal in writing.[1][2][4] Member associations that back the plan will receive $40 million in additional funding,[1][3] while those refusing face a 75 percent reduction in their allocations.[1] If approved, FIFA projects it could distribute $10 billion for global football development from 2027 onward, with each association receiving a $20 million rapid advance fund plus regular FIFA Forward payments.[4]
The proposal has ignited fierce opposition from European football authorities. UEFA has declared the plan crosses a "red line" and threatens the "soul and governance" of football itself,[1][2] calling the sport's essence non-negotiable assets that cannot be commodified.[2] UEFA has convened emergency meetings to discuss potential countermeasures, including the possibility of boycotting future World Cups.[1] However, Germany's football federation president Bernd Neuendorf acknowledged that if UEFA rejects the proposal, investors may abandon the project, stating: "If UEFA says no to this request, then it's over, because I believe that if UEFA is against it, no investor will continue with this project."[4] Infantino characterizes the initiative as "a golden opportunity for global football development."[4]
