Qatar Football Association Welcomes FIFA’s Withdrawal of Private Investment Plan
The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has welcomed FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s decision to withdraw the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a commercial initiative that would have allowed private investors to acquire minority stakes in the commercial rights of FIFA’s flagship tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In a statement issued on Saturday by QFA President H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, the association said the decision underscored FIFA’s commitment to unity across the global football community.
“We welcome FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s decision to withdraw the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal in the interest of the global football community. While the proposal had merit, we applaud the wisdom behind prioritising unity among Member Associations,” the statement read.
“The Qatar Football Association fully supports President Infantino’s efforts to continue growing and strengthening the game globally.”
The FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, unveiled on July 28, aimed to establish a new commercial subsidiary to manage FIFA’s broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing rights. Valued at approximately $20 billion, the entity would have permitted outside investors to purchase minority, non-controlling stakes, with FIFA expected to raise up to $4.2 billion.
Under the proposal, FIFA’s 211 member associations stood to benefit from increased funding, with reports indicating distributions could have reached as much as $40 million per association during the 2027–2030 cycle if the plan had been approved.
Despite its financial incentives, the initiative faced immediate opposition from several football stakeholders. UEFA’s 55 member associations reportedly warned they could boycott FIFA competitions, arguing that the commercial rights to the World Cup should not become an investment asset. Similar reservations were expressed by CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), while criticism also emerged from within FIFA. Senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned during the controversy, reportedly describing the proposal as “a bad deal for football.”
Amid mounting resistance, Infantino abandoned the proposal less than 72 hours after its official launch.
Announcing the decision, the FIFA president acknowledged that the initiative had become a source of division.
“Our purpose has always been—and will always be—to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed,” Infantino said.
While much of the reaction from football’s governing bodies focused on opposing the proposal, the QFA’s response emphasized support for both the withdrawal and Infantino’s wider vision for the sport. The association reaffirmed its backing for FIFA’s efforts to strengthen football globally while stressing that unity among member associations remains essential.
FIFA is expected to continue consulting with its member associations and confederations as it considers alternative approaches to expanding investment in football, particularly in emerging and developing football nations.
