FIFA President Gianni Infantino has written to all 211 member associations, offering each up to $40 million in funding if they support his controversial proposal to sell minority stakes in FIFA’s major competitions through a new commercial entity.
In a five-page letter obtained by the BBC, Infantino urged member associations to approve the proposal by September 19, stating that those who respond positively before the deadline will receive an initial $20 million from January 1, 2027. The remaining funds would follow under the proposed arrangement.
The plan involves the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise, a commercial subsidiary that will manage FIFA’s flagship tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup, while allowing private investors to acquire minority ownership stakes. FIFA believes the initiative could generate as much as $10 billion in new revenue.
According to FIFA, the initial payments to member associations will be financed through the sale of a minority share in the newly established subsidiary.
The proposal has, however, sparked widespread criticism across football. Officials from Europe, Asia, and North America have questioned both the transparency of the process and the speed at which the plan is being pushed forward.
Reports also suggest that several members of FIFA’s own leadership, including some of its vice-presidents, were not fully informed about the negotiations before the announcement, leaving many feeling sidelined.
While FIFA maintains that Infantino presented the broad vision during a council meeting before the 2026 World Cup final, several attendees dispute that claim, insisting they were given only a general discussion on increasing commercial revenues rather than details of a finalized investment proposal.
Defending the initiative, Infantino said it was his responsibility to present transformative opportunities to FIFA’s members while ensuring the proposal was backed by detailed financial projections and clear terms to support informed decision-making.
Despite the promised financial incentives, opposition to the proposal continues to grow, with critics arguing that the process has lacked adequate consultation and governance, raising concerns about the future commercial ownership of world football’s most valuable competitions.
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