According to the Associated Press, FIFA President Infantino’s plan to commercialize the World Cup has drawn fierce opposition from UEFA, European football’s governing body. The plan involves a $20 billion operation backed by Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, and aims to raise funds by selling stakes in World Cup events.

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The Associated Press reports that FIFA is seeking private investment, planning to sell partial rights to World Cup events to investors. This plan is being promoted by Infantino and is supported by Kushner and his affiliated investment fund.

UEFA has expressed strong fury over this. The European football governing body believes that the World Cup, as the world’s most important sporting event, is already highly commercialized, and further introduction of private capital could damage the fairness and traditional values of the event. UEFA officials stated they will take all necessary measures to resist this plan.

Analysts point out that this controversy reflects deep-seated contradictions in international football governance structures. FIFA, as the global football governing body, needs to balance the interests of continental federations; while the entry of private capital could change the existing benefit distribution pattern. The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, making the commercialization controversy even more sensitive against this backdrop.

Editor: GoodInfo Global News Team