• FIFA's deadline for accepting a $20 million offer per member is set for September 19.
• The controversial plan proposes a $20 billion subsidiary with 20% stake for private investors.
• Opposition arises from UEFA and other football bodies, claiming a lack of consultation.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has set a September 19 deadline for the 211 member federations to accept a one-off $20 million offer each, part of a controversial project to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Infantino described this as a “singular and unique funding opportunity” while revealing a plan to create a $20 billion FIFA subsidiary, which would be 20% owned by private investors, aimed at managing World Cup events and other competitions, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

The proposal, backed by Joshua Kushner’s investment firm Thrive Capital, has ignited a fierce backlash from football governing bodies, particularly UEFA, which plans to convene its 55 member associations for an emergency meeting. UEFA expressed its surprise at not being consulted on such significant changes, stating that the World Cup "is not FIFA’s to sell," according to Africa News and Al Jazeera.

Infantino has positioned the initiative as part of a natural commercial evolution in football, insisting that the proposal is "not an obligation," and affirming that it falls within a democratic consultation process. He emphasized the ongoing role of fans in football governance, claiming that FIFA will manage the sport free from external interference, as noted in coverage by both Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The backlash is heightened by memories of previous controversies, particularly when UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA competitions over similar plans. The latest arrangement has raised alarms among European lawmakers, reflecting a resistance to perceived overreach by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, as reported by Africa News and Al Jazeera.