Kushner Regrets Joining FIFA World Cup Sell-Off Plan

Venture capitalist Joshua Kushner has said he would not have taken part in former FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s abandoned proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup if he had known how the football community would react. The plan, which was revealed in early 2024, aimed to raise capital for the governing body by offering shares in the tournament’s revenue streams to private investors. It was met with swift criticism from clubs, players and fans, who argued that the World Cup’s legacy and integrity could be compromised by commercial interests.

Infantino’s proposal was ultimately shelved after a backlash that included protests from major football associations and a formal objection from the International Olympic Committee. Kushner, who had been approached by Infantino’s team to help structure the deal, explained that the negative response highlighted the sensitivity of football’s global stakeholders to any perceived commodification of the sport’s flagship event. He added that the experience would shape his future involvement in sports-related ventures.

The episode underscores the challenges of monetizing football’s most prestigious tournament. While FIFA remains open to exploring new revenue models, the backlash suggests that any future attempts will need to address concerns about preserving the sport’s heritage and maintaining stakeholder trust.