Kahn criticized FIFA's plan to sell shares of the World Cup's commercial broadcasting rights to private investors, arguing that it was not a real step forward.
Kahn wrote on social media: "The core issue is not whether this step is economically worthwhile. The real question is to what extent the economic value of football can be enhanced without jeopardizing its original value."
The background is that FIFA plans to consolidate its major competitions into a new company and sell a minority stake to investors. FIFA hopes to generate billions of dollars in additional revenue through this. The new company, called "FIFA Forward Enterprise" (FFE), is valued at approximately $20 billion.
Kahn acknowledged the importance of economic power in modern football, but believed the World Cup had its own unique characteristics. "The World Cup is more than just an asset. It is the most important shared wealth of world football," the 57-year-old Kahn emphasized. The World Cup "is not the work of officials, presidents, marketing experts, or investment bankers," but rather "an asset of generations of players, coaches, and billions of fans."
Kahn specifically criticized the recent trend. He cited the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, the significant increase in the Club World Cup, and the continuous increase in matches and events. "Every decision can be justified from an economic perspective. But when you put them together, they all follow the same logic: to keep football growing."
Kahn concluded by issuing a clear warning to FIFA: "Perhaps the true greatness of an organization lies in recognizing that not every opportunity must be seized." He further pointed out: "Not every growth is progress." The future of football does not depend on "how much bigger it can become," but on whether economic success remains "a result of what makes football great, not a substitute for it."
