‘Very worrying’ – Dutch FA leads growing backlash against Gianni Infantino’s FIFA plan

The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has joined the growing European resistance to FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s controversial plan to commercialise the World Cup and Club World Cup through a new $20 billion subsidiary.

The proposed structure would see FIFA establish a separate company to manage the commercial rights of some of its biggest competitions, with Infantino seeking to sell a 20% stake to private equity investors.

The plan has already triggered concern across European football, with the KNVB becoming one of the latest national associations to publicly question the proposal and the manner in which it is being pursued.

In a statement to NU.nl, the Dutch governing body described the development as “very worrying”, while stressing that it would wait for the full details before making a final judgement.

“Based on what has now been released, we consider this a very worrying development for international football,” the KNVB said.

The Dutch FA also insisted that any decision must be assessed against the principles of transparency, good governance and the wider interests of the sport.

“As soon as the official elaboration of this plan is available, we will jointly carefully study and discuss the proposal,” the KNVB added.

“For us, the interests of football, good governance, and transparency must always be the guiding principles.”

Infantino sets September deadline for FIFA members

The opposition comes as Infantino steps up his efforts to secure backing for the ambitious investment model.

The FIFA president has given the organisation’s 211 member associations until September 19 to approve the proposal, which he argues could unlock a significant new source of funding for football associations around the world.

According to a letter sent to FIFA members, the proposed structure could make a $10 billion funding package available if approved, compared with $2.7 billion if the plan is rejected.

Infantino has described the proposal as a “singular and unique funding opportunity”, arguing that it represents a major financial opportunity for FIFA and its member associations.

Under the proposed arrangement, the new $20 billion subsidiary would oversee the commercial interests of FIFA competitions, including the World Cup and Club World Cup.

Private investors would own 20% of the company, with the remaining stake retained within the FIFA structure.

Trump allies linked to proposed investment

The involvement of private equity has become one of the most contentious aspects of the proposal, particularly because of the identities of some of the investors reportedly interested in the project.

The plan is backed by Thrive Capital, the investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, who is the brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of United States President Donald Trump.

The connection has added another layer of political and commercial scrutiny to Infantino’s plans, with European football officials increasingly demanding clarity over how FIFA intends to structure and govern the new entity.

Infantino, however, has defended his decision to present the proposal to FIFA’s membership.

“It is my duty and responsibility as FIFA president to present such game-changing opportunities to you, our members,” Infantino wrote in the letter seen by The Associated Press.

UEFA considers response as backlash intensifies

The KNVB’s intervention comes amid broader dissatisfaction in Europe over what officials perceive as insufficient consultation surrounding the proposed restructuring.

Sources have told ESPN that UEFA is considering a range of possible responses, including the possibility of a World Cup boycott, in protest against the lack of consultation and concerns over governance.

That threat would represent a dramatic escalation in the dispute between European football and FIFA, particularly given UEFA’s influence over the global game and the importance of its national teams and clubs to FIFA competitions.

For now, the Dutch FA has stopped short of endorsing any form of opposition, instead insisting that it wants to see the complete proposal before reaching a conclusion.

The financial incentives being presented to FIFA’s members could make that decision particularly significant.

The package would include up to $20 million in one-off Fast Forward funding, alongside as much as $20 million in FIFA Forward development funding for the 2027-30 cycle.

That means each national association could potentially receive up to $40 million, a figure FIFA is using to underline the scale of the opportunity available to its members.

But with European opposition gathering momentum, Infantino’s push to reshape the commercial future of FIFA’s flagship competitions is facing its biggest test yet.

The KNVB’s warning signals that the debate is no longer confined to private discussions within football’s governing structures, with national associations now demanding answers over who will control the sport’s most valuable commercial assets and how such a major decision should be made.