Gianni Infantino has written to all 211 FIFA member associations urging them to back his plan to open the World Cup to private investors, offering a one-off $20m payment to those who join and warning that funding would be cut by 75% for those who refuse.
In the letter, which sets out the terms of "FIFA Forward Enterprise" (FFE) — the commercial company that would manage the rights and organisation of FIFA's flagship competitions — the FIFA president promises associations an immediate $20m payment if they sign up, with annual payments rising from $2m to $5m over the following four years. Federations that decline would see their funds reduced by 75%. The ultimatum expires on 19 September.
FFE is the vehicle through which FIFA intends to raise billions of dollars from external investors for the World Cup and the Club World Cup. US investment bank JP Morgan is reported to be among the institutions interested in the operation, while the involvement of Thrive Eternal — a fund led by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump — has added to the controversy surrounding the project.
