Kushner states regret over World Cup sell-off plan

Retold by Oddsrama · 31 August 2026

Venture capitalist Joshua Kushner is expressing second thoughts about his involvement in FIFA president Gianni Infantino's failed scheme to sell off a stake in the World Cup. Kushner, who was lined up to lead a $4.2 billion investment in a 20% slice of a new FIFA commercial arm, admits the whole thing spiralled into a mess he didn't anticipate. In his first public statement since the Fifa Forward Enterprise plan collapsed in July after massive backlash, he said: "Had we known what this would devolve into, we would not have gotten involved."

However, Kushner isn't entirely backing away from the idea itself. His firm, Thrive Eternal, still defends the original motivation behind the proposal—to funnel more money and equity to FIFA's 211 member associations, particularly underdeveloped nations that need investment in grassroots football and talent development. Kushner owns up to misjudging "the political dynamics of global football," suggesting the proposal was meant to be voted on by members, not forced through by decree. The problem? Infantino apparently handpicked Thrive Eternal to lead the investor group without proper consultation or competitive bidding.

UEFA has been leading the charge against Infantino, even seeking court approval in New York for subpoenas targeting Kushner and Thrive for documents and testimony as it weighs a criminal complaint. UEFA's legal team argues the World Cup was deliberately undervalued at around £15 billion—no independent valuation, no open auction. Meanwhile, Kushner has his hands full with other ventures; he recently agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers for a record $12.5 billion. The FIFA saga, though, shows that even deep-pocketed investors can stumble when they underestimate the politics of world football.

Based on original reporting by BBC Football. Read the original at bbc.co.uk →

#FIFA#Joshua Kushner#World Cup#UEFA

Kushner states regret over World Cup sell-off plan

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