FIFPRO Europe Calls for FIFA Governance Reform After Failed World Cup Investment Plan

FIFPRO Europe, the players' union body, published a study arguing FIFA's now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan to sell a stake in World Cup and other competition rights to private investors exposed dangerous flaws in how global football is governed, saying it would have converted the game's flagship competitions into assets for private capital without proper consultation of key stakeholders. FIFPRO Europe called for an independent review of FIFA Council executive decision-making so major changes could not again be advanced by a single office acting alone, and urged formal inclusion of players, clubs and leagues in football governance alongside national associations. The report also flagged that the share of World Cup revenue distributed as prize money to participating countries has fallen to about 7.7% in 2026 from 10.5% in 2006, despite strong growth in tournament revenue.