FIFA主席詹尼·因凡蒂诺推行的一项私募股权融资计划正面临全球范围内的强烈反对。[1]该计划涉及成立20亿美元的FIFA Forward Enterprise子公司，其中4.2亿美元来自约书亚·库什纳创办的投资公司Thrive Eternal承销的私募股权。[1]因凡蒂诺要求211个FIFA会员国在9月19日截止日期前接受一次性2000万美元投资要约。[1]
亚洲足联主席谢赫·萨尔曼向成员国发出警告，称该计划威胁洲际足球赛事。[1]同时，欧洲足联召集55个国家成员制定应对策略。[1]亚洲的46个足联和欧洲的55个足联合计占FIFA 211个会员国接近多数。[1]谢赫·萨尔曼在信中表示："这样的举措没有所有联合会的支持就不会成功，但事实并非如此。"[1]
为争取支持，因凡蒂诺承诺若私募股权融资计划获得批准，会员的基础资金将从1000万美元增至2000万美元，四年内计划资金可达8600万美元。[1]投资者向FIFA转移资金的目标期限设定在10月底。[1]
FIFA President Gianni Infantino's proposal to sell World Cup revenues to private equity investors is encountering widespread resistance from continental confederations and member nations [1]. The plan has prompted Asia to issue formal warnings about potential risks to continental competitions, while European federations have begun coordinating a unified response strategy [1].
The proposal centers on establishing a $2 billion FIFA Forward Enterprise subsidiary, with investment firm Thrive Eternal—backed by Joshua Kushner—underwriting $420 million in private equity [1]. Infantino has set a September 19 deadline for FIFA's 211 member nations to accept a one-time $20 million investment offer [1]. According to the FIFA president, if the FFE is approved, member base funding would double from $10 million to $20 million, with projected four-year funding reaching $86 million [1]. The target date for investors to transfer funds to FIFA is set for the end of October [1].
Asia's football leadership has explicitly challenged the initiative's legitimacy. AFC President Sheikh Salman wrote to members that "such a move will not be successful without the support of all confederations, but that is not the case" [1]. The opposition carries substantial weight: Europe's 55 member federations and Asia's 46 member federations together represent close to a majority of FIFA's 211 total members [1]. Infantino has indicated he plans to seek reelection as FIFA president in March 2031, with his term extending to that same year [1].