ZURICH, July 29 — The $11 billion revenue projection from the 48-team World Cup expansion scheduled for 2026 anchors Gianni Infantino’s tenure as FIFA president, according to the governing body’s financial targets. The Swiss administrator, now serving his third term after unopposed re-elections in June 2019 and March 2023, has pushed the sport’s showpiece event to a 48-nation format, a move designed to boost broadcast and sponsorship income. Figures show the enlarged tournament marks the centerpiece of a broader strategy to secure FIFA’s long-term revenue base.
Infantino, who became FIFA’s ninth president in a special election on February 26, 2016 after the suspension of Sepp Blatter amid the 2015 corruption scandal, came to the post from UEFA. He served as Secretary General of European football’s governing body from 2009 to 2016, where he oversaw the expansion of the UEFA Champions League and the introduction of the UEFA Nations League.
That administrative pedigree shaped his approach at FIFA, where he has championed increased prize money for the Women’s World Cup. The pot rose to $150 million for the 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand, up from $30 million in 2019, according to the filing.
Private capital and pushback
In December 2024, Infantino backed a $20 billion private investment fund led by Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, arguing in internal communications that the deal would secure FIFA’s finances for decades. The proposal, however, has alienated UEFA and several national associations, according to the source. The FIFA Council, which Infantino chairs, was expected to bring the proposal to a vote in 2025, though the timeline and outcome remain under scrutiny.
Industry observers note that such a large private capital infusion into football’s global governing body would be unprecedented. Infantino has defended the plan in a leaked letter, stating the fund would allow FIFA to invest more in grassroots football, with a target of distributing $5 billion to member associations over the next decade.
The scale of the commitment underscores the pressure on FIFA to monetize its intellectual property while maintaining control over the sport’s development. Critics, however, have questioned the involvement of a fund linked to the former U.S. presidential adviser and the potential governance risks. The president’s management style and FIFA’s human rights record regarding Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup have drawn sustained criticism.
Infantino has consistently maintained that the World Cup’s economic multiplier for host nations justifies the decision, but the legacy of that tournament continues to color perceptions of his leadership. The proposed Affinity Partners investment, if approved, would further tie FIFA’s financial future to private markets.
Next for Infantino and the FIFA Council is navigating the political fallout from the investment fund proposal while delivering on the expanded 2026 World Cup. The revenue target of $11 billion from the 48-team event remains the clearest benchmark of his presidency’s commercial strategy. As the vote approaches, the balance between private capital and member association autonomy will define the next phase of FIFA’s institutional trajectory.
Sources
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