FIFA President Gianni Infantino is considering an ambitious project that could change the way the world's top football competitions are managed. According to the British newspaper The Times, Infantino aims to create a new company that would administer FIFA's most lucrative tournaments, giving private investors the opportunity to buy shares in it.
According to journalist Martyn Ziegler, the plan has been developed discreetly and includes consultations with people connected to the administration of US President Donald Trump, as well as major financial investors. The new company would manage competitions such as the World Cup, the Club World Cup and major women's football tournaments.
The report claims that the entry of private capital could bring major changes to the organization of these competitions, including the possibility of expanding them or holding them more frequently than the current four-year cycle.
Big financial names have also been mentioned in discussions about the project, such as JP Morgan bank and investor Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law.
Under the proposed draft, FIFA would retain a majority stake in the new company, while private investors would be able to buy about 20 to 30 percent of the shares for several billion dollars. Another portion, about 20 percent, would be distributed to FIFA's 211 member federations.
According to the report, each federation could receive an ownership stake worth around $20 million, with the option to keep or sell it to generate additional revenue.
Another element of the project relates to Infantino's own future. According to sources cited by The Times, the FIFA president could take over the helm of the new company after his term ends in 2031, in a role similar to that of a sports commissioner. The salary for this position, according to the report, could reach levels comparable to those of the highest-paid executives in American sports.
However, the idea has caused concern within the football world. Some officials fear that private investors could influence sporting decisions and favor expanding tournaments or hosting them in countries that bring more economic benefits.
A senior football official, quoted by The Times, has described the project as "potentially more dangerous than the European Super League", due to the impact it could have on the global structure of the sport.
FIFA has not yet officially commented on the report, while according to The Times, several preliminary non-binding agreements with potential investors have already been discussed.
FIFA currently operates as a non-profit organization made up of 211 national federations. Its revenue for the 2022-2026 cycle is expected to reach around $15 billion, mainly from television rights, sponsorships and World Cup revenue.
