The 2026 World Cup was the most profitable in FIFA’s history with revenues estimated between $9 and $13 billion, roughly double the $7.5 billion generated during the 2022 Qatar cycle. FIFA proposed the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, a $20 billion commercial subsidiary selling minority stakes to investors including Thrive Capital (founded by Joshua Kushner), offering $40 million per member association. UEFA, representing 55 national federations that have won 13 of the 23 men’s World Cups since 1930, threatened to boycott both the men’s and women’s World Cups unless the plan is dropped, calling it « governance by intimidation ». The September 19 deadline requiring 75% support from FIFA’s 211 members was criticized as undue pressure on federations that often depend on FIFA funding to operate.
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