Infantino Faces No-Confidence Threat Over $4.2 Billion World Cup Stake Sale

Q: Who was the mystery private investor waiting to seize 21% of FIFA's commercial rights before the plan collapsed?

The investor identified in reporting was **Thrive Capital, led by Joshua Kushner**. According to the additional coverage, FIFA’s abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise plan envisioned selling about **20% to 21%** of the new commercial vehicle to outside investors, with **Thrive Capital named as the lead investment group**. Reuters, CNBC and other outlets cited Thrive as the core backer of the proposal. So the “mystery” investor was not entirely anonymous by the time the plan collapsed: it was reported to be **Joshua Kushner’s New York investment firm, Thrive Capital**. Some reports also said FIFA was seeking a broader investor consortium around that lead firm, but Thrive was the name most directly tied to the proposed stake.

3 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Aug 10

UEFA is seeking backing for an emergency FIFA Congress that could trigger a no-confidence vote against Gianni Infantino, even after he scrapped the World Cup stake-sale plan on July 31.
The backlash centers on a proposal for Joshua Kushner-led Thrive Capital to buy 21% of FIFA Forward Enterprise for $4.2 billion, a move critics said would sell the "soul" of soccer.
UEFA says it still has no confidence in Infantino and is maintaining its boycott threat, with the first test coming at the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland on Sept. 5.
Norway has directly called for Infantino to resign, while FIFA says critics are using "allegation, insinuation or misinformation" to bypass presidential elections due next March.
Removing him would require 106 of FIFA's 211 national associations; African and South American confederations have backed Infantino, and Mexico has broken with CONCACAF to support him.