FIFA has announced plans to expand its funding for football development programs to more than 10 billion USD and attract outside investment through a new structure, the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). It is expected that outside investors will be able to obtain minority stakes without control, and the American venture capital firm Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner, may lead the group of investors.

According to media reports, the project's implementation could generate significant personal income for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, although sources within the organization claim his appointment to a leadership position at the FFE was not discussed. According to FIFA's statement, each national federation will be able to receive up to 20 million USD in one-time development funding.

Infantino stated that the commercial success of individual parts of football should contribute to the development of the game in all countries of the world.

The initiative sparked sharp criticism. UEFA stated that such a move crossed an unacceptable line, emphasizing that the governance and reputation of football cannot be negotiated, especially without transparency about who will benefit financially.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham also criticised the plans, saying football belonged to fans, not investors, and that signing such a deal would be a betrayal of the game's interests.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire noted that the proposal opens the door to additional revenue for FIFA, and suggested that if the FFE were created, the organization could insist on expanding the World Cup to 64 teams and holding the tournament every two years to satisfy shareholder interests.

The initiative must be approved by FIFA's 211 national member federations. The issue is planned to be discussed at the FIFA Council's autumn meeting and during the Intercontinental Cup in December, with a vote possibly taking place at the FIFA Congress in Morocco in March.