FIFA: "Had we known what this would devolve into, we would not have gotten involved" (Joshua Kushner)

"Had we known what this would devolve into, we would not have gotten involved," Joshua Kushner — the American billionaire, founder of venture capital firm Thrive Capital and younger brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump — told American news website Axios on 31 August 2026 regarding the proposed creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a commercial subsidiary open to private investors brought together around Joshua Kushner and intended to manage FIFA’s commercial and event-related activities.

Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, had presented the proposal on 28 July without any prior consultation within the football world, including within FIFA itself, before officially abandoning it four days later, on 1 August 2026, in the face of the "divisions" it had…