FIFA President Gianni Infantino is offering $20m payments to each of the 211 member associations in an effort to secure their support for a controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors, according to reports. The one-off payments, described as an endorsement of the scheme, come with a September deadline and a warning that countries failing to back the plan could miss out on additional funds of up to $30m.
The proposal, announced nine days after the 2026 World Cup final, has drawn sharp criticism from European football bodies. The Guardian reports that the plan has sent shockwaves through the sport, with senior officials scrambling for a coordinated response during the holiday period. FIFA's record $15bn (£11.2bn) revenue from the tournament has also raised questions about the need for external investment.
Football associations have until September 19 to decide whether to accept the initial $20m, a move that would effectively signal approval of the new scheme. Critics argue the payment is a tactic to bypass meaningful debate, and UEFA is under pressure to take concrete action to block the plan. The controversy follows the Folarin Balogun scandal, which also tested FIFA's leadership under Infantino.