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Joshua Kushner expresses regret over involvement in scrapped FIFA World Cup commercial plan

Venture capitalist Joshua Kushner stated he misjudged football politics after his firm's $4.2 billion deal with FIFA faced legal scrutiny and intense opposition.

Updated Aug 31, 2026 · 22:22 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • Venture capitalist Joshua Kushner publicly stated he regrets attempting to purchase a stake in FIFA's World Cup commercial rights following fierce opposition from European football leadership.
  • Kushner's firm, Thrive Eternal, was in talks to lead a $4.2 billion investment for a 20% stake in a new FIFA commercial subsidiary before the proposal was abandoned in July.
  • UEFA is pursuing subpoenas in a New York court against Kushner and his firm as it evaluates potential criminal legal action against FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Switzerland.

Key facts

  • Joshua Kushner stated that he would not have gotten involved in the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme had he known what it would turn into, citing a failure to appreciate global football politics.[BBC News]
  • Thrive Eternal, founded by Kushner, held talks to head up a $4.2 billion investment in exchange for 20% of a FIFA commercial subsidiary before the deal was scrapped in July.[BBC News]
  • UEFA asked a New York court to approve subpoenas for testimony and documents from Kushner, Thrive Eternal, two U.S.-based FIFA businesses, and financier Greg Maffei.[BBC News]
  • UEFA legal filings allege that FIFA President Gianni Infantino discussed the plan with Kushner for nearly a year prior to signing a term sheet and failed to consult FIFA hierarchy.[BBC News]
  • The proposed scheme claimed it would raise funding per member association from £5.9 million to £14.7 million for the 2027–2030 cycle.[BBC News]

What remains uncertain

  • Whether UEFA will formally file a criminal complaint against Gianni Infantino in Swiss court, as it is currently considering the action while gathering evidence.[BBC News]
  • UEFA claims the World Cup was deliberately undervalued at around £15 billion without an open auction or independent valuation, though this remains an assertion made in court filings.[BBC News]

Sources