Investors will not have access to football management or control over the new company.
On Wednesday, International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) confirmed its intention to sell 20% of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), the new subsidiary it seeks to create to manage the organization’s commercial operations and events, including the World Cup.
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According to the federation, the subsidiary would be valued at US$20 billion. FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s idea is that, if the member federations approve the creation of FFE, a 20% minority stake will be sold to investors, generating approximately US$4.2 billion in cash.
FIFA clarified that investors will not have access to football management or control over the new company, as it is an independent commercial subsidiary.
The funds raised will be allocated to the new FIFA Fast-Forward Programme (FFFP), which could grant US$20 million per federation, in addition to another US$20 million they will receive through FIFA Forward in the 2027–2030 period.
Gianni Infantino, in an interview with himself, calls FIFA Forward Enterprise part of a “democratic” and “consultation” process.
He gave federations until Sept 19 to accept. If it passes, they each get $40 mil. If it fails, $10 mil. pic.twitter.com/P0YfbcnDPp
— Margaret Fleming (@mgfleming12) July 29, 2026
The creation of the subsidiary will depend on the support of a majority of the 211 member federations and the approval of the FIFA Council. According to the British newspaper The Times, the federations have 53 days to respond.
The project has drawn criticism from several confederations, such as UEFA, which questions the profit-driven nature of the initiative, and the AFC and Concacaf, which claim it was designed without their input.
FIFA insists that the investors will not have any influence on sporting decisions such as the format, frequency, or expansion of the World Cup, limiting themselves to being financial partners.
#WorldCup2026 | Fans gave their verdict after the FIFA World Cup Final, as Spain’s victory over Argentina sparked celebrations, disappointment, and passionate debates over the match’s defining moments.#Spain #Argentina #Football #teleSUREnglish pic.twitter.com/jMeTaliqyC
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) July 20, 2026
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Source: EFE
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