FIFPRO Calls for FIFA Governance Overhaul After Failed FFE Project

FIFPRO Europe is calling for major reforms to FIFA's decision-making structure following controversy surrounding the now-abandoned Forward Enterprise initiative. The European players' union believes the project exposed serious weaknesses in the way major decisions are made within global football and warned that similar proposals could emerge again unless stronger safeguards are introduced.

A study commissioned by FIFPRO and produced with Player IQ and Football Benchmark examined the FFE project and its potential impact on the sport. The initiative, introduced by FIFA president Gianni Infantino earlier this year, sought to develop new investment opportunities around major football competitions but was eventually withdrawn after facing widespread opposition. FIFPRO argues that the process demonstrated a lack of meaningful consultation with key stakeholders.

The players' union continues to support efforts to increase development and solidarity funding for smaller football associations. However, it believes any future financial mechanism must be developed collectively and through a transparent governance system. FIFPRO is particularly concerned that important decisions affecting the global game could be advanced without sufficient involvement from players, clubs, leagues and other football bodies.

The report also highlighted the enormous influence of European clubs within the global game. European teams employed 856 players at the expanded 2026 World Cup and released players whose combined market value reached approximately €16.9 billion, representing 94 percent of the tournament's total player value. FIFPRO also noted that all 20 individual award winners across the previous five World Cup editions played for European clubs, underlining the continent's considerable sporting and economic weight.

FIFPRO is therefore pushing for an independent review of FIFA's executive decision-making processes to prevent major initiatives from being developed unilaterally. The union also pointed to changes in World Cup finances, noting that the share of tournament revenue distributed as prize money fell to around 7.7 percent in 2026 from 10.5 percent in 2006 despite strong revenue growth. For FIFPRO, the debate over FFE has become part of a broader push to protect football's core infrastructure and ensure that its future is shaped through stronger, more inclusive governance.