The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is preparing to scrutinize FIFA’s strategy to introduce private investment into the commercial management of the FIFA World Cup and other premier tournaments. CAF President Patrice Motsepe is scheduled to convene with the Executive Committee next week to evaluate the proposal and establish an official stance for the continent.
CAF noted that its member associations will be involved in the consultation phase, adhering to established FIFA and CAF protocols. The organization emphasized its dedication to collaborating with stakeholders to boost funding for football development both in Africa and globally. This follows FIFA’s recent announcement regarding the creation of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a subsidiary designed to manage its major commercial operations.
Under this plan, FIFA aims to keep majority control while selling minority stakes to private investors to raise approximately $4.2 billion. The proposal has sparked intense international scrutiny. Media reports suggest FIFA President Gianni Infantino might lead the entity in the future, while noting potential interest from investors like Joshua Kushner and JPMorgan Chase. Organizations including UEFA have strongly opposed the move, arguing that the World Cup should not be treated as a tradeable asset, while other global confederations have raised concerns about a lack of prior consultation.
