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FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended a controversial proposal to establish a commercial subsidiary to manage and monetize the governing body’s major competitions, insisting the plan is an opportunity—not an obligation—for member associations despite mounting criticism from football stakeholders.
In a video message released on Wednesday, Infantino said the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) would unlock previously untapped commercial value from FIFA-owned competitions, including the World Cup, through sponsorship, broadcasting, licensing and other commercial ventures.
“It is a golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally. But again, it is just an offer, not an obligation,” Infantino said, adding that the proposal would only move forward with the approval of FIFA’s 211 member associations and the FIFA Council.
The proposal, unveiled on Tuesday, has sparked strong opposition, with critics arguing that the World Cup should not be treated as a commercial asset. European football governing body UEFA said the tournament was “not an asset to trade,” while the Asian Football Confederation said it had not been consulted. European Union sports commissioner Glenn Micallef also urged FIFA to “hands off our game.”
According to The Times, FIFA has informed its 211 member associations that each could receive up to $40 million in funding if they approve the proposal by September 19. Infantino reportedly said a $10 billion funding package would become available from January 1, 2027, if the plan is adopted.
In a letter seen by the newspaper, Infantino said associations would have a choice between the new proposal and the existing expansion of FIFA’s Forward development programme, worth $2.7 billion.
“Should you wish to proceed, this $10 billion package will become available as of January 1, 2027, ushering in the next phase of our journey together,” the letter said.
The report said some opponents had described the offer as “pure bribery,” an allegation FIFA has not addressed publicly.
UEFA intensified its criticism on Wednesday, accusing FIFA of pressuring national associations by linking financial support to approval of the plan.
“Today we have learned of FIFA’s deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn. This says everything you need to know about this plan,” UEFA said in a statement.
The European body added that opposition to the proposal was growing across the football community and accused FIFA of prioritising commercial interests over the welfare of associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans.
Infantino, however, maintained that the initiative would not alter the game itself but would generate greater financial resources to support football development worldwide, saying fans everywhere would ultimately benefit from the additional investment.
