A major crisis has erupted between the International Federation of Football "FIFA" and the European Union "UEFA", days after the end of the 2026 World Cup tournament, which Spain won.
According to the newspaper "The Times", FIFA President Gianni Infantino intends to sell the World Cup in the form of shares to private sector investors, and will assume a role similar to that of commissioner in this new project.
This idea, which the Times newspaper highlighted, has provoked a strong reaction from the European Football Association (UEFA).
The European body, headed by Aleksander Ceferin, indicated that Infantino's proposal "crosses a line that football governing bodies should never cross."
The European Football Association did not stand idly by, but issued a stern warning to all concerned parties.
In an urgent statement issued by the European Football Association and published by the Times newspaper: "The European Football Association takes this matter seriously. All national football associations and all concerned parties, from federations, clubs, players, fans, governments, and everyone interested in the future of this sport, should follow suit. The essence of football and its management are not a commodity to be bought and sold, especially in the absence of transparency regarding the beneficiaries. None of us owns football. It is not FIFA's property to be bought and sold."
According to these reports, Infantino is allegedly studying the sale of stakes in World Cup to private sector investors. He will do so through a new company, and British media believe that preliminary agreements have been signed in a deal worth more than 17 billion euros.
FIFA will retain the majority stake, while private sector investors can obtain minority stakes worth billions of euros.
It is said that JP Morgan is overseeing the process, and Donald Trump has been consulted about it. The Times indicates that Infantino may become president of the new entity after his presidency of FIFA ends.
English media reported that high-level FIFA officials discussed the agreement that will include the participation of 211 member federations.
Although no additional details about the proposal have been disclosed, this process will expand the scope of the World Cup to include more than 48 teams, and even open the door to the possibility of holding the tournament at a frequency less than once every four years.
