Infantino abandons $20 billion FIFA private-equity proposal after global backlash
Gianni Infantino has abandoned a proposal to create a $20 billion company that would handle FIFA’s commercial operations after widespread global backlash. The plan would have allocated a 20% stake to private investors and named a New York-based investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner as the proposed "anchor investor".
The scheme was designed to consolidate the commercial rights for FIFA’s flagship competitions, covering the men's and women's World Cups as well as the Club World Cups. Published: 2026-08-01T04:30:23.0000000Z, the report outlined the valuation and ownership split that lay at the centre of the controversy. Details released at the time made clear the investment vehicle’s purpose was to manage those tournaments’ commercial business.
Under the outline that has now been withdrawn, the new company carried a $20 billion valuation. The proposed financial structure called for private investors to hold a 20% equity interest in that entity, leaving the remainder under FIFA’s control according to the plan as described.
The commercial remit attached to the proposed vehicle specifically named the men's World Cup and the women's World Cup among the assets to be managed. Club World Cups were also included in the list of competitions whose commercial exploitation would have fallen under the new company’s remit.
Attention centred on the identity of the proposed major backer. The firm presented as the proposed "anchor investor" was identified as a New York-based investment company founded by Joshua Kushner.
The reporting reiterated Joshua Kushner’s family connection, noting he is the younger brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. Those personal links were highlighted in coverage of the proposed deal and factored into the public reaction that followed.
Infantino’s decision to drop the plan came in the wake of the global backlash that followed disclosure of the proposal’s valuation, ownership terms and the named anchor investor. The withdrawal ends that particular effort to monetise FIFA’s commercial portfolio under the structure that had been outlined.