£185 million at stake as clubs push for Club World Cup joint venture
£185 million from the 2025 Club World Cup solidarity fund is in limbo after European clubs threatened to boycott the 2028 and 2029 editions unless FIFA withdraws the Forward Enterprise scheme, which was cancelled on 1 August 2026.
£185 million solidarity fund from the 2025 Club World Cup could be held up by the dispute over FIFA’s Forward Enterprise commercial plan.
On 31 July 2026 the European Football Clubs (EFC) group sent a sealed letter, signed by chief executive Charlie Marshall, to FIFA secretary‑general Mattias Grafström warning that its members would boycott all future Club World Cups unless the Forward Enterprise scheme was withdrawn.
The letter said the plan could breach the existing memorandum of understanding and that EFC would not support the 2028 or 2029 men’s or women’s editions without a fully operational joint‑venture in place before broadcast and sponsorship rights are sold.
In the early hours of 1 August 2026 FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced the scrapping of the privately‑backed Football Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme. FIFA added that it would meet with EFC promptly to keep the joint‑venture on track.
FIFA will meet with the European Football Clubs promptly to discuss the joint‑venture and ensure the Club World Cup schedule proceeds as planned, the organisation said in a statement.
Immediate consequences for the 2028‑29 Club World Cups
The dispute puts three editions at risk:
| Edition | Gender | Planned year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s Club World Cup | Men | 2028 | Joint‑venture pending; clubs may boycott |
| Women’s Club World Cup | Women | 2028 | Joint‑venture pending; clubs may boycott |
| Men’s Club World Cup | Men | 2029 | Joint‑venture pending; clubs may boycott |
The £185 million fund, earmarked for distribution to clubs that participated in the 2025 tournament, is now uncertain because the joint‑venture that would govern future revenue sharing has not been finalised.
Leverage and next steps
EFC’s ultimatum shows the clubs’ leverage: without a clear commercial framework, the flagship global competition could lose the participation of Europe’s top clubs, undermining broadcast value and sponsor interest.
FIFA’s promise of a swift meeting aims to resolve the joint‑venture details before rights for the 2028 women’s tournament are sold. If an agreement is reached, the £185 million fund can be released and the Club World Cup schedule can proceed without disruption.
Source: The Guardian, 14 August 2026
