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CAMBRIDGE, England — FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plan to transform the World Cup into an investment vehicle has sparked widespread criticism. FIFA intends to package the World Cup’s commercial rights into a new US$20 billion company and sell private investors a stake, potentially around 20%, in revenues from broadcasting, sponsorship, licensing, and ticketing.
UEFA has warned that this plan “crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross,” highlighting concerns over the lack of meaningful consultation and accusing FIFA of acting with “zero transparency.”
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham echoed this sentiment, stating, “Football belongs to the fans.”
The proposal follows a controversial period marked by Infantino’s close relations with world leaders such as Vladimir Putin of Russia, Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, and former US President Donald Trump. Notably, Trump was awarded a disputed “peace prize” and posted a bitter Instagram message attacking critics of FIFA’s organisation of the recent World Cup.
This initiative represents a significant shift in the governance of football’s premier competition and has been met with resistance reminiscent of the backlash against a previous European football project that collapsed under pressure within 48 hours.
The World Cup, as a researcher of football heritage notes, belongs to the people who have spent nearly a century giving it meaning, underscoring the cultural significance beyond commercial interests.
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