Infantino Sets Sept. 19 Deadline for FIFA Members to Approve Private Investment Plan

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has set a September 19 deadline for the 211 member federations to vote on a private investment plan that would hand a 20 percent stake in a $20 billion FIFA subsidiary to private investors, according to ESPN's reporting. The deadline creates a stark choice: approval unlocks a $10 billion funding package, with each member association receiving up to $40 million, or rejection leaves a planned $2.7 billion forward program as the alternative.

The $40 million per federation comprises up to $20 million in one-time Fast Forward funding and $20 million in FIFA Forward development funding for the 2027-30 cycle. Infantino's letter states the $10 billion package would become available January 1, 2027, if members vote yes. The proposal is backed by Thrive Capital, the investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner.

The subsidiary would operate football competitions including World Cups and Club World Cups. According to ESPN, the scheme represents a major structural shift in how FIFA monetizes its core assets, with private equity holders gaining a minority stake in the machinery that runs the sport's marquee events.

UEFA, which oversees European football, issued a statement saying it learned of the deadline only through ESPN's report. "Today we have learned of FIFA's deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn. This says everything you need to know about this plan," the statement read, per ESPN. "There is significant and growing opposition to FIFA's scheme." UEFA plans to convene an emergency online meeting of its 55 member federations, likely on Thursday, and sources told ESPN the confederation is considering options including a potential World Cup boycott.

The Football Association, which governs English football, stated it was "completely unaware of this proposal and have no substantive details" and expressed concern about "lack of process and governance," according to ESPN. Concacaf, which oversees North and Central American football, said it is "deeply concerned" by FIFA's plan to sell stakes in its major competitions. UEFA has previously insisted the World Cup is not "an asset to trade."

Sources within women's football in England described FIFA's plan as "unconscionable" and believe it could be detrimental to the women's game, with decisions driven by profit rather than player safety, according to ESPN. Women's football sources also expressed concern that women's World Cup could become a negotiating tool, potentially facing boycotts to allow men's World Cup discussions to proceed, per ESPN's reporting. The next women's World Cup is scheduled for 2027.

Infantino previously attempted to push through a secretive $25 billion private equity plan in 2018 to create new and bigger men's competitions, which UEFA resisted at that time.