RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 13 sourcesFILE PHOTO - FIFA's logo is seen at FIFA headquarters ahead of the draw ceremony for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Zurich. Christian Charisius/dpa
FIFA has been urged to withdraw controversial plans to sell stakes in a new World Cup company by the World Leagues Association chaired by Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.
FIFA is seeking approval from national associations to create FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), promising them huge increases in development funding if the plan gets the green light.
A group of private investors, who would collectively own around 20 per cent of FFE, is set to be led by Thrive Eternal, a company founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of United States President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
FIFA insists FFE would oversee the sale of commercial rights in, and operational delivery of, its tournaments, but that investors would have no say in determining matters such as the size and frequency of its big competitions, such as the men’s and women’s World Cups and the Club World Cup.
However, there are major concerns that investors’ natural desire to maximise returns – and the need to fulfil promised increases in funding to national associations – will mean the inevitable growth of competitions, impacting the existing domestic and international football calendars.
The World Leagues Association issued astrong statement opposing FIFA’s plans on Thursday morning.
“Without any consultation, FIFA announced earlier this week a project to establish a commercial subsidiary to operate its competitions and sell equity interests to private investors,” the statement began.
“The FIFA World Cup value, and more generally of national team football, is the result of a collective effort across the entire football pyramid. National team football is built upon the release of players by their clubs.
“While around one per cent of the world’s professional players participate in the FIFA World Cup, the other 130,000 professional footballers and all their clubs stop competing as national league competitions come to a halt.
“Therefore, FIFA’s responsibilities extend beyond the commercial success of its own competitions. As the global governing body of football, FIFA has a responsibility to safeguard the balance between national, continental and world competitions and to consider the interests of the game globally.
“The FIFA Forward Enterprise project further highlights the conflict of interest between FIFA’s role as the regulator of world football and as the commercial organiser of major international competitions.
“The World Leagues Association asks FIFA to withdraw its project and reiterates the need for a fundamental change in FIFA’s decision-making processes, ensuring that decisions affecting the entire football pyramid are taken through transparent and inclusive process involving all stakeholders that contribute to the game.”
The WLA’s statement was validated by its board including 12 leagues from around the world – Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues but also Major League Soccer and the Saudi Pro League.
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