Kushner regrets involvement in FIFA World

Venture capitalist Joshua Kushner says he regrets his involvement in a scrapped FIFA plan to sell a stake in the World Cup. Kushner's firm, Thrive Eternal, was set to lead a $4.2 billion investment for a 20% stake in a new FIFA commercial subsidiary before the idea was abandoned in July following a major backlash.

In his first public comments on the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme, Kushner stated, "Had we known what this would devolve into, we would not have gotten involved." He added that he had "failed to appreciate the political dynamics of global football." However, he defended the proposal's original intent to distribute capital more equally among FIFA's 211 member associations.

UEFA's Legal Challenge

Kushner's comments come as European football's governing body, UEFA, pursues legal action. UEFA has asked a New York court to approve subpoenas for testimony and documents from Kushner and Thrive Eternal. This is part of UEFA's preparation for a potential criminal complaint in Switzerland against FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

UEFA has led a rebellion against Infantino, who faces calls to resign from three continental confederations. The legal filing claims neither Kushner nor key adviser Greg Maffei are anticipated defendants, but seeks their documents regarding the FFE concept.

The Shelved Investment Plan

The proposed FFE scheme aimed to generate significant new funding for national associations. FIFA claimed the plan would have increased funding for each member from £5.9 million to £14.7 million for the 2027-2030 cycle. Kushner argued the idea was to direct more capital to underdeveloped nations to nurture local talent and grow the game globally.

"Money in football has historically been concentrated amongst a small group of countries," Kushner said in a statement. "The idea behind FFE was to direct more capital and equity equally amongst all 211 member countries." He emphasized it was a proposal for member associations to vote on, not an obligation.

Allegations of Undervaluation and Secrecy

UEFA's lawyers have made several contested claims about the proposal. They argue the World Cup was deliberately undervalued at around £15 billion for the deal. UEFA states this figure "was neither the product of an open, competitive auction, nor tested by any independent valuer."

Furthermore, UEFA claims Infantino failed to consult FIFA's own hierarchy about the plan. The court documents allege Infantino had been discussing the concept with Kushner for nearly a year before a terms sheet was signed in July 2025.

Kushner, the brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law, has recently agreed a separate record deal to buy basketball's Los Angeles Lakers for $12.5 billion.