FIFA mulls stake sale through new $20 billion entity, source says

FIFA is planning to ​sell a significant minority ​stake in a new commercial entity ​with a valuation of about $20 billion, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

World soccer's governing ‌body is ⁠working with ⁠bankers at JPMorgan to raise billions of dollars ​by bringing in external investors to take as much as ​a 20% stake in the entity, the source said, adding that former Liberty Media CEO Greg ​Maffei has been involved as ⁠a commercial ‌adviser on the creation of ​the FIFA ​enterprise.

FIFA did not immediately respond to ⁠a request for comment.


Thrive Eternal, a new investment strategy launched by venture capital firm Thrive Capital, is expected to be a lead investor in the entity, the source said. The strategy is a permanent capital vehicle focused on making a small number of ‌long-term investments in franchises and cultural institutions.

Thrive Eternal took a minority stake in ​Major League ​Baseball's San ⁠Francisco Giants this year. The vehicle was founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, U.S. ​President Donald Trump's son-in-law. Former Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger serves as an adviser.

The Financial Times first reported on the stake sale.

(Reporting by Echo Wang; Writing by Kanjyik Ghosh; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Ed Osmond)