FIFA maintains private investment plan despite UEFA’s opposition.

FIFA has decided to proceed with its controversial plan to open up to private investment, defying strong opposition from various continental federations, including UEFA. The confirmation of the continuation of this project was made following a presentation that provoked adverse reactions, highlighting the division within world football.

The governing body of global football emphasized that, despite the criticism, it will maintain an “open and democratic” consultation process so that each member federation can express its opinion. The controversy emerged when FIFA revealed the details of the plan, which led UEFA to threaten not to participate in future FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, if the proposal was not abandoned. UEFA criticized the manner in which the proposal was developed “in secret,” stating that future decisions could prioritize the interests of shareholders over the interests of football itself.

The opposition to the proposal is not limited to UEFA. CONCACAF, which represents 41 federations from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, has also expressed its dissatisfaction. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) joined the chorus of criticism, stating that the proposal “cannot realistically achieve the broad consensus and unity needed to move forward.” The AFC further emphasized that any proposal that threatens the unity and universality of the World Cup should be carefully reconsidered.

On the other hand, the African Football Confederation (CAF) has taken a more neutral stance, simply urging its members to analyze the proposal before making any decisions. In response to accusations from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, FIFA was clear: “No one is selling football. This is something that FIFA would never consider,” reaffirming its commitment to address the expressed concerns.

The plan in question, which includes the creation of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), aims to manage FIFA's commercial activities and events, such as the men's and women's World Cups and the Club World Cup. FIFA expects to raise up to $4.2 billion, equivalent to about €3.66 billion, based on a total valuation of $20 billion. If the project is implemented, the allocation for each of the 211 member federations could increase from $8 million to $20 million between 2027 and 2030, a significant increase that could have profound repercussions on the financing of global football.

With the growing resistance from various confederations, FIFA is facing a significant challenge in implementing its plan. It remains to be seen how the federations will respond to this continuity and whether they will be able to find common ground that satisfies all parties involved.