World football's governing body has sparked anger with the proposals - with European football's governing body UEFA voting to boycott future World Cups if the plans are approved - but FIFA has claimed that the consultation process had been "disrupted by incorrect media reports".
A statement read: "We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation.
"We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA (member association) has the ability to express its vote based on facts.
"Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain."
FIFA is determined to create a commercial subsidiary (FIFA Forward Enterprise) to run its events, including the World Cup, and external investors will be able to purchase stakes in it.
The governing body's president Gianni Infantino has written to FIFA members saying they will receive $40 million if they back his proposals and has set a September 19 deadline for associations to accept his plans should they wish to receive an initial $20 million payment.
Should approval be granted, FIFA says venture capital firm Thrive Eternal is set to lead the proposed investor group for FIFA Forward Enterprise.
Thrive was founded by Joshua Kushner - the brother of US President Donald Trump's (a close ally of Infantino) son-in-law Jared Kushner.
UEFA issued another statement condemning the proposals on Thursday (30.07.26).
It read: "The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product.
"It is one of football's greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent.
"No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.
"This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA's duty as the custodian of world football."
CONCACAF, which governs football in North and Central America, says that its members "expressed deep concerns about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal" and the "artificially short deadline imposed".
Meanwhile, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) stated that it is "deeply concerned that FIFA's unilateral actions appear to undermine the very foundations of football".
The body also said that it was "unacceptable" that it had not been consulted about FIFA's proposal before it was publicly announced, nor provided with "detailed governance, financial or legal analysis".
