'Nobody Is Selling Football': FIFA Responds After Backlash Over Private Investor Plan

Published 31 July 2026 · sports

'Nobody Is Selling Football': FIFA Responds After Backlash Over Private Investor Plan Published By, Last Updated: July 31, 2026, 11:08 IST UEFA has warned it

'Nobody Is Selling Football': FIFA Responds After Backlash Over Private Investor Plan Published By, Last Updated: July 31, 2026, 11:08 IST UEFA has warned it will boycott the World Cup over the proposal to create a commercial subsidiary to run FIFA's biggest events. Rapid Read FIFA says the plan could raise up to $4.2 billion. (AFP Photo) Amid growing criticism of its proposed private investment initiative, football’s global governing body FIFA said on Friday that it will continue with an “open and democratic" consultation process involving football stakeholders. It claimed its consultation process was interrupted after “incorrect media" reports. The response comes after European football’s governing body UEFA said it was prepared to consider boycotting the World Cup in opposition to plans that would establish a commercial subsidiary to oversee FIFA‘s major events and allow private investors to take ownership stakes in the company.

FIFA said in a statement that all of its member associations must be given the opportunity to review and assess the proposal. “Nobody is selling football," FIFA said in the statement. “This is not something FIFA would ever entertain." FIFA added that it has taken note of concerns raised by confederations, including UEFA and CONCACAF, the body responsible for football across North and Central America. “We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation," the statement said. “Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each (member association) has the ability to express its vote based on facts." FIFA has estimated that the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative could generate as much as $4.2 billion, based on a projected company valuation of $20 billion.

“Everyone has the right to express their opposition and to seek further clarification but no single entity can claim to represent all 211 MAs around the world. Each MA should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future. These are the democratic principles of FIFA," read the statement. If the proposal receives approval, FIFA’s 211 member associations could each receive a one-time payment of $20 million in early 2027. The plan would also raise their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8.0 million to $20 million. “⁠Without the support of the majority of MAs, FIFA’s commercial activities would remain unchanged. FFE would not be established," FIFA said. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Feroz Khan Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent.