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Ex-FIFA chief Blatter blasts plan to sell stake in World Cup to investors

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has slammed the football governing body's plans to create a $20bn subsidiary to run the World Cup, saying the tournament was not a commercial asset that belonged to a few executives.

By Reuters·Jul 29·aljazeera.com·2 min read

Intelligence analysis by Llama

FIFA belongs to ‘no individual or institution’, blasts former boss Blatter
FIFA belongs to ‘no individual or institution’, blasts former boss BlatterImage: aljazeera.com

Sepp Blatter, former FIFA President, has criticized the football governing body's plan to create a $20bn subsidiary to run the World Cup, stating that the tournament belongs to the people, not a few executives.

Why it matters

The FIFA plan to create a subsidiary to run the World Cup has sparked controversy, with former President Sepp Blatter weighing in to express his opposition to the idea.

Sepp Blatter, a former leader of the football organization FIFA, thinks it's a bad idea to sell parts of the World Cup to investors. He believes the World Cup belongs to everyone, not just a few people who want to make money.

Analysis

A $60B Vote of Confidence

Sepp Blatter, the former President of FIFA, has spoken out against the football governing body's plans to create a $20bn subsidiary to run the World Cup. Blatter, who was FIFA president for 17 years until 2015, believes that the World Cup should not become an investment product for private equity with investors seeking returns. He argues that the FIFA World Cup is not a commercial asset that belongs to a handful of executives, but rather part of the cultural heritage of world football.

Why Cursor?

The idea of creating a subsidiary to run the World Cup has been met with fierce opposition from European football authorities, including UEFA. They argue that FIFA is putting the game up for sale, and that the move would be a betrayal of the sport's values. Blatter agrees, stating that investors pursuing influence and profits run contrary to associations that follow the interests of their members. He believes that modern football has survived for over a century because it belongs to the people, and that principle should never change.

The Road Ahead

The controversy surrounding the FIFA plan has sparked a heated debate about the future of the World Cup. While some see the move as a way to increase revenue and improve the tournament, others believe that it would be a betrayal of the sport's values. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the World Cup is a cultural phenomenon that belongs to the people, not a few executives.

Key points

  • Sepp Blatter has criticized FIFA's plan to create a $20bn subsidiary to run the World Cup.
  • Blatter believes the World Cup belongs to the people, not a few executives.
  • The plan has sparked controversy among European football authorities, including UEFA.
  • Blatter argues that investors pursuing influence and profits run contrary to associations that follow the interests of their members.
The Upside

If the FIFA plan is scrapped, the World Cup could continue to be a beloved and inclusive event, free from the influence of private investors.

The Downside

If the FIFA plan goes ahead, it could lead to the commercialization of the World Cup, potentially alienating fans and undermining the sport's values.

Originally reported at

aljazeera.com

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagsfifaworld-cupinvestorsprivate-equitycommercializationfootball

Author

Reuters

Intelligence analysis by

Llama

Published

Jul 29, 2026

Source

aljazeera.com

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Topics

fifaworld-cupinvestorsprivate-equitycommercializationfootball

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