FIFA has defended its proposal to sell minority stakes in a commercial World Cup entity, rejecting claims that it is commercializing the sport.
The response comes after UEFA threatened to boycott all FIFA competitions.
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On Friday, July 31, 2026, FIFA issued a statement addressing the controversy.
The plan, which involves creating FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was met with furious reactions from European football's governing body and CONCACAF.
Investors led by Thrive Eternal are reportedly seeking a minority stake, with backing from FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
FIFA moved to clarify its intentions while refusing to withdraw the initiative.
"We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations in relation to the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and would like to address the issues that have surfaced since the initial media reporting on Tuesday," FIFA stated.
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to open and democratic consultation with all member associations.
"We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation," the statement continued.
FIFA expressed frustration over how the proposal was presented in news outlets. "Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports.
We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA has the ability to express its vote based on facts," FIFA stated.
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The governing body argued that the financial structure aims to support member federations directly without compromising football's core principles.
