Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Fifa president Gianni Infantino (left) has proposed selling off stakes in its football competitions to private investors via associates of US President Donald Trump
Chief football news reporter Published 30 July 2026, 06:20 BST Updated 7 hours ago Football's world governing body expects to receive the first funding generated by president Gianni Infantino's controversial sell-off plans by the end of October.
Infantino has proposed the creation of a subsidiary body to run Fifa tournaments, which would include some outside investment.
Fifa has given all 211 member associations until 19 September to say whether they agree with the plan, with a straight majority to decide whether to proceed.
One of the main complaints around the plan so far has been a lack of consultation.
Critics will say that is underlined by a new document sent to associations by Fifa - and seen by BBC Sport - outlining the following timescales around funding:
August: Investors given access to term sheet and select materials.
September: Investors indicate investment amount and confirm terms.
October: Commitment letters submitted, long-form agreements agreed, tender allocations made.
Late October: Investors transfer funds to Fifa by end of October.
The latest development comes as European football's governing body prepares to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday afternoon to discuss its response.
Uefa kept up its offensive over the plans after it was discovered Fifa had sent an earlier letter - also seen by the BBC - to every association giving them until 19 September to decide if they want to accept the deal, and with it the first $20m (£15m) of an initial $40m (£30m).
"We have learned of Fifa's deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn," said Uefa. "This says everything you need to know about this plan."
That was Uefa's second statement on the issue. The first claimed Fifa had "crossed a line".
It is not known precisely what will be discussed at the meeting, which will be held virtually.
Many of Fifa's members - including the Football Association - are furious at only learning through the media of the proposal to sell a 20% stake in Fifa competitions to private finance - led by the Thrive Eternal investment vehicle owned by Joshua Kushner, the brother-in-law of US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka.
FA chair Debbie Hewitt was among the Fifa vice-presidents not given advance notice. Uefa's unease has been echoed by the Asian, South American and North and Central American Confederations.
David Bernstein - a former chairman of both the FA and Manchester City - said England should "withdraw" from the World Cup if Infantino's proposals go through.
Three of the 2026 World Cup semi-finalists are among Uefa's 55 members. It knows the nuclear option of its members pulling out of the tournament would severely damage the financial viability of the concept.
That is very much viewed as the outer edge of what is possible, particularly as one Uefa member has said it is broadly in agreement with Infantino's proposals.
"We can see the pragmatic benefits for Czech football," said David Trunda - president of the Czech FA.
However, the World Leagues organisation, chaired by Premier League chief executive Richard Masters, feels Fifa is acting beyond its remit.
"Fifa's responsibilities extend beyond the commercial success of its own competitions," it said.
"While around 1% of the world's professional players participate in the World Cup, the other 130,000 professional footballers and all their clubs stop competing as national league competitions come to a halt."
It added the creation of a subsidiary body to control Fifa's commercial activities "further highlights the conflict of interest between Fifa's role as regulator of world football and the commercial organiser of major international competitions".
It concluded: "The World Leagues Association asks Fifa to withdraw its project and reiterates the need for a fundamental change in Fifa's decision-making processes."
Is World Cup sell-off plan a step too far by Infantino?
Published 1 day ago Fifa offers $40m if nations back controversial plan
Published 1 day ago Fifa's explanation for controversial move After widespread condemnation of both the proposals and the manner in which they have been created, Fifa released an eight-page document highlighting the reasons behind them.
Fifa said its view was "too little of football's growing commercial value has reached the parts of the game that need it most".
It has been pointed out the sums being spoken about are more than some member associations spend annually and questions have been raised about the auditing of money Fifa already hands over in some parts of the world.
Despite this, Infantino feels the proposals would help provide funding for "better pitches, stronger national teams, more pathways for young players, and greater support for women's football".
In a video released by Fifa on Wednesday, Infantino defended the plans, calling them "an offer, not an obligation".
"It's part of a democratic process - a consultation process - and, above all, it is an opportunity but not an obligation," he added.
"It is a golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally."
Fifa points to the qualification of Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan for the World Cup for the first time as an example of the positive benefits of its work, though that was, in part, due to the expansion of the competition to 48 teams.
It also cites Formula 1, La Liga, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga as examples of other sporting organisations that use "dedicated commercial operations".
It says private investors would "absolutely not" have any influence over the World Cup.
There has been a stream of comment on the issue, most of it negative.
The European Leagues organisation said on Wednesday that Fifa's proposals represented "a reckless and divisive development for world football".
"The World Cup should not be for sale. It is not the Fifa president's private equity asset," a statement read.
Global players' union Fifpro called on Fifa to "reconsider its proposal without further delay".
It said it had "noted with deep concern the proposal to transform the World Cup and other Fifa competitions into investable assets for private capital".
Fifpro added such a move "would fundamentally and irreversibly reshape the incentives underpinning the competitions" and it was "particularly troubling that a project of this magnitude has been developed largely behind closed doors".
La Liga president Javier Tebas accused Infantino of trying to buy votes before the next Fifa congress in March.
"It doesn't seem like a reform. It seems like an electoral campaign financed with the future of football," Tebas said.
"Development cannot be used to buy votes or silences. The competitions and commercial rights of Fifa are not the personal patrimony of Infantino.
"Whoever mixes politics, discipline, money and power without transparency cannot lead anything.
"Infantino is not the solution to Fifa's governance. He is the problem."
Hans-Joachim Watzke - vice-president of the German Football Association (DFB) and president of Borussia Dortmund - told Kicker magazine Fifa's plans were an "absolute attack on football".
He said: "A line has been crossed here. If European football stands united against these plans, that carries a great deal of weight."
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Sources: BBC Sport
