FIFA Sets Sept. 19 Deadline for Members to Back $4bn World Cup Stake Sale
World football governing body FIFA has given its member associations until Sept. 19 to decide whether to support a proposal to sell stakes in its major competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, in exchange for increased funding.
The proposal, unveiled on Tuesday, seeks to establish a commercial subsidiary that will manage FIFA’s flagship tournaments. If approved, the plan would unlock a funding package worth $10 billion from Jan. 1, 2027.
According to a report by The Times, FIFA President Gianni Infantino informed member associations in a letter that each federation could receive up to $40 million under the new arrangement if they choose to participate.
Infantino stressed that the decision rests with individual member associations.
“Should you wish to proceed, this $10 billion package will become available as of Jan. 1, 2027, ushering in the next phase of our journey together,” he wrote.
He added that member associations that decline the proposal would still benefit from FIFA’s planned expansion of its Forward Programme, which provides $2.7 billion in development funding.
“In total for the upcoming cycle starting as of Jan. 1, 2027, each member association will have the possibility of access up to $40 million per member association under this proposal,” the letter stated.
The proposal has, however, sparked strong opposition from some football stakeholders.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) criticised the plan, insisting that the FIFA World Cup is “not an asset to trade,” while the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said it had not been consulted before the announcement.
European Union Sports Commissioner Glenn Micallef also weighed in on the issue, urging FIFA to abandon the proposal.
“Hands off our game,” Micallef said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, The Times reported that some critics of the proposal have described the offer as “pure bribery,” arguing that the financial incentives are aimed at securing support for the controversial plan.
