Joshua Kushner Regrets Involvement in Scrapped World Cup Investment Plan
Joshua Kushner, a venture capitalist and founder of Thrive Capital, has expressed regret regarding his involvement in FIFA president Gianni Infantino's now-abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. Kushner stated that had he anticipated the ensuing crisis, he would not have participated in the proposal.
His comments follow the collapse of the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative, which aimed to secure a $4.2 billion investment in a new FIFA commercial subsidiary. The plan was scrapped shortly after its announcement in July due to significant backlash. Kushner defended the original intentions of the FFE, which aimed to distribute capital more equitably among FIFA's 211 member associations.
Recently, UEFA has sought legal action against Infantino, requesting court approval for subpoenas related to the investment plan. UEFA's legal documents indicate that Infantino designated Thrive Eternal to lead the investor group without proper consultation. While neither Kushner nor another financier involved is expected to face legal action, UEFA claims the World Cup's valuation was significantly undervalued.
