Selling out the World Cup? FIFA boss Infantino is planning a radical step

Now the FIFA President is apparently going one better. Like the British newspaper Times Reportedly, Infantino is said to be preparing to found his own company, which would in future control both the World Cup and the Club World Cup. At the head of the company: himself, as soon as his last regular term as FIFA boss expires. Re-election by 2031 is almost certain next year.

The second part of the plan is particularly unusual. Shares in the new company should be given private investors are sold, loudly Times People close to the US government have already been contacted Donald Trump contacted, with whom Infantino has been on friendly terms for years. The bank JP Morgan is listed as a possible main investor Joshua Kushnerthe brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushnera name that gives the entire project a tangible political flavor.

According to the report, the distribution of shares should look like this: FIFA retains the majority, private investors could initially acquire 20 to 30 percent, and another 20 percent would be reserved for the 211 member associations. Each individual association would receive shares worth around 20 million dollars, the equivalent of around 17.6 million euros, which they could theoretically also resell. This would be a tempting offer, especially for financially weak, smaller associations.

The economic logic behind it is also explosive. A profit-oriented company would naturally be interested in offering its most valuable product more often, and the World Cup could theoretically do so more often than in the usual four-year rhythm. An expansion of the number of participants is already being discussed.

The model would also pay off personally for Infantino. According to the Times As a future company boss, his salary could advance into a region that has so far been NFL boss Roger Goodell was reserved, with estimated 64 million dollarsthe equivalent of around 56.3 million euros annually, is one of the best-paid sports officials in the world. For Infantino, this would mean a tenfold increase in his current salary.

There have always been plenty of critics for his previous plans, but Infantino has always prevailed.