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FIFA said in a statement that it remained committed to holding open and democratic consultations with all member associations on the proposal to establish an independent commercial entity to manage its commercial activities and flagship tournaments. The world governing body stressed that every one of its 211 member associations would receive the opportunity to review the details and express views before any decision. According to the statement, feedback from continental confederations including UEFA and CONCACAF had already been taken into account, with adoption requiring majority support plus FIFA Council approval for regulatory amendments.
Under the plan outlined by FIFA, each member association would receive a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027. Funding allocations for the 2027-2030 period would also increase from $8 million to $20 million per association. These enhanced resources form a central element of the initiative aimed at strengthening financial support across the global football community while reshaping commercial operations.
The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from UEFA, which has signaled readiness to boycott the World Cup in protest, according to ESPN. The European body’s 55 member associations stand united in rejecting the idea of transferring ownership interests in the tournament to private investors. UEFA’s emergency meetings have underscored concerns that the sport is not FIFA’s to sell in this manner.
CONCACAF similarly voiced deep concerns over the lack of due process, the short deadline imposed and the absence of review by relevant FIFA governance bodies following its own meeting. The confederation’s 41 member associations unanimously rejected the plan to sell a stake in commercial operations linked to the World Cup. Reuters reported that this stance reflects a broader pattern of regional confederations feeling blindsided by the announcement.
FIFA anticipates record revenues of approximately $15 billion from the 2026 World Cup, significantly above the original $11 billion projection, The Guardian reported earlier this month. That tournament, expanded to 48 teams and hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, highlighted the growing commercial appeal of the event. Such figures have intensified interest in new investment models but also fueled debates over control of these assets.
The FIFA Forward development program has distributed up to $8 million to each member association during the current cycle to support infrastructure, operations and competitions, according to the organization’s revised budget documents. The proposed changes would more than double that baseline support in the next period. This approach continues FIFA’s long-standing practice of redistributing tournament earnings to promote football’s growth at all levels worldwide.
FIFA added that inaccurate media reports had complicated the consultation process, and it intends to ensure all associations base their positions on verified facts. The statement from Zurich emphasized completion of the democratic review before proceeding further. Opposition from key confederations has nevertheless highlighted the challenges in securing the broad consensus required for implementation ahead of future tournaments including the 2030 edition.
