# Josh Kushner: Thrive would have stayed away from World Cup deal if it had known what was coming

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-09-04 22:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
Josh Kushner and Thrive express regret over a World Cup deal as FIFA and UEFA engage in a legal battle over Gianni Infantino.

## Intelligence Brief
A legal and professional conflict has erupted between FIFA and UEFA regarding a World Cup sell-off plan involving Gianni Infantino. According to coverage from ABC News, FIFA has formally accused the European governing body UEFA of conducting a 'smear campaign' against Infantino. This accusation was detailed in a US federal filing related to the contested sell-off plan. Amidst this tension, Joshua Kushner has stated that his organization, Thrive, would have avoided the World Cup deal entirely if the entity had prior knowledge of the current developments. ESPN reports that Kushner explicitly regrets his role in the FIFA World Cup sell-off plan, indicating a significant shift in the relationship between the private investors and the football governing body. Multiple international outlets are tracking the escalation of this dispute, including Reuters, BBC News, The New York Times, and dw.com.


These reports emphasize that the conflict has moved into the legal sphere, with ESPN noting that FIFA's accusations of a smear campaign appeared in a response opposing a discovery request. The Guardian highlights the precarious position of Gianni Infantino, suggesting that the UEFA legal case could signal the end of his leadership, particularly as support from Trump is said to be evaporating. The reporting indicates a wide consensus among major news organizations that the governance of the World Cup deal is under intense scrutiny due to these legal threats. To understand the current stakes, it is necessary to note the involvement of high-profile legal and financial figures. The New York Times reports that FIFA is expected to cover the legal costs for Gianni Infantino while UEFA considers initiating criminal proceedings. Furthermore, The Times reports that Joshua Kushner has appointed a lawyer previously associated with Elon Musk to handle the legal battle against UEFA.


This indicates that the dispute is not merely administrative but has evolved into a high-stakes confrontation involving federal filings and potential criminal litigation concerning the financial arrangements of the World Cup sell-off plan. Future developments will likely center on the progress of the criminal proceedings being considered by UEFA and the outcome of the US federal filings. Observers will be watching for further statements from Josh Kushner regarding Thrive's involvement and the effectiveness of the Musk-associated legal counsel in battling the UEFA case. The coverage suggests that the stability of Gianni Infantino's presidency depends heavily on the resolution of these legal challenges and the level of political support he maintains. As FIFA continues to fight the discovery requests and defend against the alleged smear campaign, the legal trajectory of the World Cup sell-off plan remains the primary point of focus.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Reuters | FIFA accuses UEFA of 'smear campaign' in fight over Infantino plan | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirAFBVV95cUxNajBhTGNicGExVjZBRm55VDd4ajl3Y20wa1hSTjI5bzByeDdrSExLM2FnVmxOT2YyQ0pUVHhFQWxvSXE5dXN5a0lmSHRyRFUwRWRhMll2YVNJNENvNGJPQnZvOGNHWVVWVHBhWXdZZGNWc0dsMmZVVWRWSGtIN1ZTZ3F5dUEtWUlXcGduTzlVZjFFYWRkSk5lR01Ia051ZG04SVZUdTk0aFlwUHFo?oc=5) |
| The Guardian | Uefa legal case may be beginning of the end for Infantino as Trump’s support evaporates - Barney Ronay | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitwFBVV95cUxQekRiQXdCSG0wb3BYZm5QR1dSVGVvLU1sdFJiYmpBdExUM3hrWkNWVXNjYjJ6U09VcWF2NmE0UjlwRC1ybmNZLUF0eG8wVi1xU0FKLXFhN0U1NmVtVUxFMXR6S0dqdjRVamZ6aDRLMHVsd3ZlTHhWc0x6X0VSX1c4aHhwSHVxaEM1ZFZxWm1WV2l0bEZKeFQtdy1TaExVWGxOY1dNLWh2YkxsbXp3Rmw3UlM3NEstaFk?oc=5) |
| dw.com | FIFA accuses UEFA of 'smear campaign' against Infantino | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijwFBVV95cUxNUHJPQVQ4TndZaF9kcjl4U0FJOHJBSHU3ODBJUFpQS21GWVMteHBaNVZjb1l2MlVnaG9HZ0pjS1dlQWl6S0t6QktMUEVZNXdQX0FBMlN4UlhKcU40aDdNVGpxR3pOdkQzaHJhSGRVYXU0V1VQeTJDajlVWHFEdFg1SnR3ZHdTbVljSHpFVWtQd9IBjwFBVV95cUxOV3pGUlJPaHhob1dIdTZiV0xyalRybnFpcTVyanZBMGxPWG9BVURhTnViLTBBdS1lak5jX2Z3R045bFNuVUJnQXVzVWFsOW9XR2E2Y3Utc05TNldMYWlEM0RWbzUxcGxtREpIWEZWSmhpbG1hSm1JT01sWGNYMklnVG56SVE1cmFYVklDdmlsOA?oc=5) |
| The New York Times | FIFA accuses UEFA of ‘smear campaign’ against its president Gianni Infantino | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikAFBVV95cUxOSm1XUDRBUHFCRjlFTzF3dmRYWVc1OGFPWFAwNTFmQWJJTnIwdHVWXzFwTjM3MnVhc01JMzYwOGtUY255VFZkMkQtYTNJMUU1N3AxdDBfbXRDNHBkRjFfNjhYNmNhX2N5TDFDT2NzbDhZQ2ZWR2lCa211X1JTdFBlN2d4ZjZielMxd0tTald0QkM?oc=5) |
| ESPN | Kushner says he regrets role in FIFA's World Cup sell-off plan | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMingFBVV95cUxOaG93SGZiQks0M200eDRoY2d1VGpOWDF1cExxV0ZQZGlyRHpwa2JPUEdrQ1EtMEZQbDE1UWw0WHA3MXhzbHRqSjdqOTlweklLOEZuODdBdEhTQXRNZWV1X1NteU5QcllIQ3lTQjNSQ3dkb21xeHcwYzNoY3g2UVl4VEUyeDlvN0RoMWp3QzU0aEM5YUtERUlVQnVrZHpnQQ?oc=5) |
| The New York Times | FIFA expected to cover Gianni Infantino’s legal costs as UEFA considers criminal proceedings | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxPa1d1SGl2OVpFQkNvU1BEaVRRV2JVdzhDY01zM2ZQendic1doMXdSMDF2cWo5ajZHVWROTVd0S01lTTNPeU95YkJWekFNQy1YMXUzYUhlemY4RWxkOG1uQ1o1TVc3dnhSSHRBVG50OXdsREFDN3VKSTNJa083eVp5dmJ3RFRscVJLSTFEaUdwNWZxWlJCcWc?oc=5) |
| ESPN | FIFA accuses UEFA of 'smear campaign' in opposing discovery request | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxPSDdaVzhYdzU0N1JZUW5jMUpjNlRITEJZYTVjbFlnamxpLTZEV05vSUF1ell5NXNadHFBLVBnei0zbjYxdkR6NU9POEtRaGtEN19PVExlU3lLOUFmZWk5eFJ6Slhib3Bxc3pYbVl6ZVNvX0tDeHNLeV91TGY0S3FzaWwteDhKSWFEQUJXeHI5NlVvVGo4c1pEMHBJUHBDdUphVHlZ?oc=5) |
| The Guardian | Fifa calls Uefa’s legal threat a ‘smear campaign’ in US federal filing | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMie0FVX3lxTE52enl5SUR6Ml9QOXNvWTZQVHp5STdhOWNMWElxdXJnOWRuMHlsNl9aSmNKT1JRSTVfLUlfdXZVdE5LOWVxUHVqVG1oZG9iYU9KM1k1SHpmVVFnWG9fMGV0WWM4QmV0b2tUQm5YOVRpSW9OMHdSOWFrLWdCUQ?oc=5) |
| The Times | Joshua Kushner appoints Musk lawyer to battle Uefa World Cup legal case | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxOZGVTdk80Vl8tRTJZWHNtbmFGU2RoOXdtdXY4V1prd0Q2ZEhFNEFtRzdlUjZwZnFCTWhIYWdsZ2o2X1RYZkZfdUc1RzVtb3Q5UU1HdzlIaXZNOUdvZXVEcHU0emNXNmhzYzAxd1RqcElqTjNBbmU2WVFkMjd0VUs2aTJJSEsteDZERlVsNWxrWHgwZjJoTnlxci1WN2x3bjAxYXdRQ1NIZ3BqWTFsanp0dWFHb24?oc=5) |
| bbc.com | Fifa accuses Uefa of 'smear campaign' against Infantino | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiZ0FVX3lxTE1xLWYyRmQzNEdLSUVzREhyV0RRMWxlR2hoZ2ZZdEItWDJNZGx6UE5yT3Zid3F1NDBSRjRUMUYyeUpuRVc0WWxQQ2Z0ZWRSNVZjTVBrNHZkY1pyM0Q1SUJJZW1FZHpSUW8?oc=5) |
| abcnews.com | FIFA accuses European body UEFA of 'smear campaign' in filing related to World Cup sell-off plan | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxPaXpmQ0hRN1JCYnM5QWI3QUcyMEVwOEE3RzdoSDJkdm9xS0JpM3FxdmdkcG1uWWtXNHRnNjJwa21OQzd5LVZVSE9WVXB1cDl6YzZ2ZF9wbVUwUlpJbkVHWDlscVUyZ3FVRWdDQlhnb3lIVzlxa0pHdXR0c1hhaV9BTGF2NkQzWjlqSE0wNHpabElqTjNFNC00cWhYZWFEd0N0a1HSAacBQVVfeXFMTU0wTFp1T2swLUctaS0xenJSVWVvWUo1aFI0WmdUTFBOZEV2aHNaYld5QW5SUHFnU2UxQkNXUms3UkxKMHhtR2RVaUlqVDdBZmIwRVdSQlJ5V0N5UTB2WmUyUnFDTnluR3c5dUMxWjNzN2ZZVy1IWmIyZFdsSUROZjdMSllPTXcwWUpzaUVPaXAxWFpieVNjVVJmWlN5dm5zOGFOdUxyaWc?oc=5) |
| Fortune | Josh Kushner: Thrive would have stayed away from World Cup deal if it had known what was coming | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi3gFBVV95cUxNa1QyVDN4Ui1pRDNPbjVEUnNLTzdzcXlzWHlBSEF6YlYwd1BjeFAyaVMxcVVEdnVZSy1BZm9iLTFhMkJiWFVIMWlZdVdhUUp2NGc1bDdUUHI0WDJYS2xXVkJuM3BoWVVPWENkQk1NUDZ1RHlGRW9PSHdyTnNjRk00djdGcDA3NDliQzJHSVluUmllTVd5TUlkeUQ1WUxMTWRIamZ0d3NLdFVMc0J4SlVYMzFJOC1ZYlVkcDY5SlpzZ051V05aTkVSTWZma3Q3a1RBckRGWDVvS212Q0hkM2c?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-09-04/josh-kushner-thrive-would-have-stayed-away-from-world-cup-deal-if-it-had-known*