FIFA has firmly denied reports suggesting it is planning to sell the FIFA World Cup to private investors, insisting that a proposed commercial initiative under consideration is intended to generate more funding for football development rather than relinquish control of the sport’s premier tournament.
In a statement released on Friday, the world football governing body said recent reports had inaccurately portrayed its proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), creating confusion among stakeholders and disrupting an ongoing consultation process with its 211 Member Associations.
FIFA stressed that the initiative was designed to help national football associations benefit from additional commercial opportunities while preserving the organisation’s ownership, governance and decision-making authority.
“Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain,” the organisation said, dismissing claims that the World Cup or other FIFA assets could be transferred to private investors.
According to FIFA, the proposal would involve the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise as a subsidiary operating under FIFA’s ownership and control. The entity would manage certain commercial and event delivery activities with the aim of generating additional revenue to support football development worldwide.
The governing body said every member association would receive US$20 million in FIFA Forward development funding between 2027 and 2030, irrespective of whether it chose to participate in the initiative.
FIFA also proposed a one-off US$20 million payment through a new FIFA Fast Forward Programme, funded through external investment. It noted that participation in the scheme would be voluntary and would not require Member Associations to surrender any rights or influence over FIFA’s commercial operations.
“We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation,” FIFA said, adding that member associations would have the opportunity to study the proposal and determine whether it served their interests.
FIFA further emphasised that the initiative would proceed only if it secured the backing of a majority of its Member Associations. Without such support, it said, the proposed enterprise would not be established and FIFA’s existing commercial structure would remain unchanged.
The clarification comes amid growing criticism of the proposal from some football stakeholders, including the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF). Former FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro has also resigned over concerns related to the initiative.