FIFA's Infantino sets members deadline for $20M offer in World Cup investor plan

Key Points:

• FIFA President Gianni Infantino set a September 19 deadline for member federations to accept a $20 million one-off offer as part of a plan to sell stakes in a new $20 billion FIFA subsidiary to private investors, led by Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital.
• The proposal, which would give private investors 20% ownership and control over FIFA competitions including the World Cup, has faced strong opposition from UEFA and other continental soccer bodies, who argue the World Cup is not for sale and criticize the lack of consultation.
• UEFA is likely to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the plan, with some European federations threatening to boycott FIFA competitions if the proposal proceeds, recalling past resistance to Infantino’s attempts to alter World Cup scheduling.
• Critics, including British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, have condemned the plan as a sellout of football to investors, emphasizing that the sport belongs to fans and national federations, not private equity.
• Infantino’s leadership and secretive approach have sparked widespread frustration, with concerns that the move aims to commodify the World Cup further and potentially extend his influence in football governance beyond his current presidential term.