FIFA’s $20 Billion World Cup Venture Backed by Kushner Family Draws Sharp Rebuke From European Soccer Federation

FIFA President Gianni Infantino unveiled plans Tuesday to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise, a $20 billion operation that would oversee the World Cup and Club World Cup through private investment. The initiative, first reported by The Times of London and the Financial Times, would seek up to $4.2 billion in capital this year from investors purchasing minority stakes in the organization.

Joshua Kushner’s investment firm Thrive Eternal ranks among the private backers of the venture, which FIFA is developing in partnership with J.P. Morgan. Joshua Kushner’s brother, Jared Kushner, serves as son-in-law to U.S. President Donald Trump, connections that have strengthened further during the recent men’s World Cup tournament.

UEFA, the European soccer confederation representing 55 of FIFA’s 211 member federations, swiftly condemned the proposal as a fundamental breach of sports governance. The organization stated that “the soul and governance of football are not assets to trade — especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially” and declared the plan crosses a line that football institutions should never cross.

FIFA, currently structured as a Swiss-based nonprofit association, said member federations would be granted approval rights and could access up to $20 million in one-time capital allocations. Infantino framed the initiative as “the democratization of football worldwide” in a statement defending the restructuring.