FIFA's $20 Billion World Cup Sale Plan Involves Trump's Son-in-Law

FIFA Pitches $20 Billion Deal for World Cup Rights

FIFA has disclosed a plan to sell a commercial stake in the FIFA World Cup to a private investment group, with the deal valued at approximately $20 billion. Among the figures linked to the purchasing group is Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, according to reporting by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The proposal marks one of the most significant potential privatization moves in the history of world football's governing body. If completed, it would hand outside investors a share of the revenues generated by the World Cup, the single most-watched sporting event on the planet.

FIFA has not disclosed the full list of investors involved, but the involvement of Kushner has drawn immediate attention given his political profile and business interests. Kushner has been expanding his private equity activities since leaving the White House in 2021, and a stake in World Cup commercial rights would represent a major asset acquisition.

What the Deal Would Cover

The reported structure involves selling rights tied to World Cup commercial operations, rather than transferring governance or ownership of the tournament itself. FIFA would retain control of the competition while private investors gain access to a slice of the revenue streams the event generates, which include broadcasting deals, sponsorship packages, and licensing agreements.

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is already expected to be the most lucrative edition of the tournament in history. A 48-team field and matches scheduled across major American cities make it the centerpiece of FIFA's near-term commercial strategy. Any deal struck now would position investors to benefit directly from that event and potentially future editions.

The $20 billion valuation reflects the scale of those projected revenues. World Cup broadcasting rights alone have climbed sharply over successive tournaments, and the 2026 edition is anticipated to set new records given the size of the North American market.

Political and Governance Questions

The reported involvement of Kushner is likely to face scrutiny from football governance watchdogs and some FIFA member associations. Critics have raised concerns in the past about private capital entering football's top structures, arguing it creates conflicts of interest and reduces accountability to the sport's broader stakeholder base.

FIFA under president Gianni Infantino has pursued an aggressive commercial expansion strategy in recent years, including the creation of the expanded Club World Cup and the ongoing push to grow the game in North America and Asia. Selling a stake in World Cup rights fits that pattern, though the scale of this particular proposal goes beyond previous moves.

The ABC report did not include official comment from FIFA or Kushner's representatives on the specifics of the deal or its current status. It remains unclear whether the plan has received formal approval within FIFA's governing structures or whether it is still in a proposal stage being presented to potential investors.

For football fans and administrators watching from outside the boardroom, the core question is straightforward: what does private investment at this level mean for how the World Cup is run, priced, and broadcast in the years ahead? Those answers will depend heavily on the final terms of any agreement, none of which have been made public.