FIFA considers private investment in U15 tournament

According to News.

Context

The Summer League-inspired U15 tournament has been designed to involve all 211 FIFA-registered countries, highlighting the organisation's global approach to football development. Businessman Juan Carlos Rodriguez, who initiated the idea, has experience in managing football structures, which adds weight to the proposal.

Why is this important

FIFA's initiative to create an U15 tournament could have a significant impact on the development of youth football and draw attention to international football in the early stages of players' careers. It also reflects growing interest in the commercialization of youth competitions, which could change the sports business landscape and attract new investment in football.

Key takeaways

• FIFA is considering private investment in the U15 tournament.
• FIFA President Gianni Infantino negotiated private investment in the U15 tournament, but plans were scrapped ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
• FIFA held talks over private investment in U15 ‘World Cup’ featuring 211 teams - The Athletic.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been discussing with private investors over the past year the possibility of creating and commercializing a U15 tournament inspired by baseball's Summer League. According to several sources familiar with the talks, the soccer body has invited proposals for a youth soccer "festival" that could involve all 211 FIFA-registered countries.

Plans to create the tournament were put on hold shortly before the start of the 2026 World Cup, and it is unclear whether Infantino's secret talks with the Thrive Eternal fund, which was seeking to become a major investor and take a 21% stake in FIFA's commercial and events operations, played any role in the decision. Thrive Capital declined to comment on whether they were aware of FIFA's plans to commercialize the U15 tournament.

An extensive concept was prepared for the U15 tournament, which in its first year was planned for boys only. It was spearheaded by businessman Juan Carlos Rodriguez, a former commissioner of the Mexican Football Federation, who received support from Eldridge Industries, a global holding company founded and led by Todd Bowley, owner of English Premier League club Chelsea and co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They were in talks with ESPN, the long-term broadcaster of the Summer League, to host the event at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex located near the Disney World resorts in Orlando, Florida.Under the proposals, ESPN would have broadcast the competition in the US. The concept included options for opening and closing ceremonies at Disney parks. In addition, Infantino suggested that the U15 festival's opening match would feature the Israeli and Palestinian national teams, but this was not part of the proposals presented by Rodriguez or Eldridge. The proposal follows Infantino's failed attempt at the FIFA convention in Vancouver in April, when he tried to get representatives from the Israeli and Palestinian football federations to shake hands and pose for a photo together.

FIFA has openly stated its plans to create a new global U15 tournament, which was announced following the FIFA Council meeting in December 2025. FIFA then issued a press release stating that the tournament would feature short matches and smaller fields compared to the seniors. It was also confirmed that the first tournament will be for boys only, with a women's version planned for 2027. After this, the men's and women's tournaments will be held separately at different times of the year. “We are actively promoting youth competitions and development, and this is a natural and very exciting step,” Infantino said in a statement in December.

However, FIFA never publicly disclosed that it was in talks to commercialize the event.FIFA declined to comment on whether FIFA management had informed the FIFA Council of the need to explore external investment for the U15 tournament. According to tax forms first reported by PENNLIVE.com, Little League International receives about $17 million a year from ESPN under its current agreement to retain global rights to its baseball and softball world championships, highlighting the commercial potential of such an event for soccer, which is far more popular around the world than baseball.

Investors were initially willing to waive rights fees from broadcasters for the U15 tournament, focusing on coverage on widely watched networks, streaming platforms and TV channels around the world. This would increase sponsorship rights sales and build an audience over time. Eldridge and Rodriguez envisioned a long-term product that would bear fruit for decades as the tournament matured.

Hoping the product would become particularly popular in countries that don't typically qualify for World Cups, creating strong local rights markets for monetization, some at FIFA saw opportunities to scout teenage talent that might be noticed by clubs in more developed soccer nations. The tournament was to consist of 32 groups of six or seven teams to accommodate all 211 countries.

An official proposal was presented to FIFA, which made it clear that it was interested in the concept.However, shortly before the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, Eldridge was informed that FIFA was not going to proceed with the concept. Some people close to the project have expressed doubts about the optics of commercializing a children's tournament. Also, conversations with an external investment group about acquiring a 20% stake in FIFA's commercial and events operations could have been a conflict of interest.

Infantino only publicly announced plans to create a new private entity, FIFA Forward Enterprises (FFE), which is looking to sell a minority stake to outside investors after the World Cup, and the plans were quickly scrapped after a strong backlash.

With the youth festival requiring the approval of FIFA's 211 member countries, hopes for it to take place in late October were always optimistic. So on June 24, some 12 days into this summer's tournament, FIFA announced that the FIFA Council Bureau, a group of leading directors, had ultimately decided that the U15 event should take place in Azerbaijan, apparently without external funding at this stage. In a statement, FIFA said the decision to host the tournament in Baku was made after a "careful assessment by the FIFA administration and takes into account the global sporting and general infrastructure in the host country, capable of accommodating thousands of children and support staff in a central location."

What happens next

Plans for the U15 tournament have been suspended, but this does not rule out the possibility of resuming them in the future. FIFA may reconsider its approach to youth tournaments after the 2026 World Cup, given interest from private investors and potential benefits from commercialization.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to the U15 tournament that FIFA is considering?

FIFA is discussing the possibility of creating and commercializing an U15 tournament inspired by baseball's Summer League, but plans were put on hold shortly before the start of the 2026 World Cup.

Who confirmed the discussion of the U15 tournament?

FIFA President Gianni Infantino discussed with private investors the possibility of creating an U15 tournament.

Why is private investment in the U15 tournament being considered now?

The discussion of private investment is related to FIFA's desire to commercialize the tournament and attract offers from investors.

What has changed in FIFA's plans for the U15 tournament?

Plans to create an U15 tournament have been put on hold, and it is unclear whether secret talks with the Thrive Eternal foundation played any role in the decision.

What is the concept of the U15 tournament?

The U15 tournament concept includes the participation of all 211 countries registered with FIFA and was planned for boys only in the first year.

Similar articles

• FIFA Men's World Cup
• FIFA Men's World Cup
• FIFA Men's World Cup
• FIFA Men's World Cup