French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari, in New York City to support France's national football team during the 2026 World Cup being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, defended Qatar's ownership of Paris Saint-Germain at a Business France event near Central Park on Monday. The French minister spoke with reporters after participating in a panel that included French Football Federation President Philippe Diallo and representatives from the NFL and New Orleans Saints, who will play the first professional American football game in France this fall.
France faces Iraq in its second World Cup match tomorrow at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Ferrari's visit comes as the tournament has faced scrutiny over format changes, including the introduction of four-quarter play with 'hydration breaks' that critics say prioritize television advertising revenue over the sport's traditional structure.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative critics of sovereign wealth fund investments in Western sports franchises argue that foreign governments should not control major cultural institutions. Some Republican lawmakers have proposed greater scrutiny of real estate and sports investments by state-linked entities from countries with poor human rights records.
Defenders of PSG's ownership point to the economic benefits for French football. The club has invested heavily in youth development and contributed to France's competitive success, including winning the 2018 World Cup with several PSG-affiliated players on the national team. Ferrari echoed this sentiment in New York: 'We are lucky to have such a club.'
On athlete activism, some conservative commentators have argued that sports ministers from any country should remain neutral on player political statements while representing their nation abroad. Others note that Ferrari's comments were measured, acknowledging players' rights as citizens while noting they should refrain from certain expressions while wearing the national team jersey.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive advocates and human rights organizations have long questioned Qatar's investment in European football through PSG. The club is owned by Qatar Sports Investments, a vehicle of the Qatar Investment Authority, the Gulf state's sovereign wealth fund. Critics argue that sovereign wealth funds from authoritarian states represent a form of sportswashing designed to rehabilitate images abroad.
Human Rights Watch and other advocacy groups have documented labor conditions in Qatar related to infrastructure for the 2022 FIFA World Cup held there. While Ferrari did not directly address those concerns, she noted that France works with broadcasters to limit advertising during hydration breaks—a compromise some progressives argue does not go far enough in protecting the sport's integrity.
Climate advocates also praised Ferrari's frank assessment of challenges facing future Winter Olympics. 'With climate change, having snow in the future is more and more uncertain,' she said. Environmental groups have called for reforms to how host cities manage water consumption and snow production as global temperatures rise.
What the Numbers Show
Paris Saint-Germain has been owned by Qatar Sports Investments since 2011. The club has won eight Ligue 1 titles and reached the UEFA Champions League final in 2020. PSG's total transfer spending over the past decade exceeds $1.5 billion, according to Transfermarkt data.
The 2026 World Cup is being co-hosted by three countries for the first time—matching the expanded tournament format introduced in 2026 with 48 teams competing across 16 host cities. FIFA has projected the tournament will generate more than $10 billion in revenue.
France's national team, led by Kylian Mbappé who scored in their opening match against the United States on Saturday, is among the favorites to reach the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.
The Bottom Line
Ferrari's defense of Qatari investment in French football reflects a broader tension between economic benefits and geopolitical concerns surrounding sovereign wealth fund activity in Western sports. While PSG has elevated French football's global profile and commercial revenues, critics argue that allowing autocratic governments to own major clubs sets problematic precedents for sports governance.
The World Cup continues through July 19, with France next facing Iraq on Wednesday before potential knockout stage matches. Ferrari is expected to remain in the United States through at least France's group-stage finale against New Zealand on Monday.