Infantino scraps World Cup profit sale plan after backlash
Infantino dropped the World Cup profit sale plan after his adviser resigned and Asian, European, and North American football bodies opposed it.
Key implications
- FIFA has withdrawn its proposal to sell a minority stake in World Cup commercial rights.
- UEFA’s boycott threat has been avoided, preventing an immediate crisis in world football.
- Senior FIFA officials publicly criticised the proposal, raising governance concerns.
- FIFA must now explore alternative funding models for future tournament expansion.
- The controversy has weakened confidence in Infantino’s leadership ahead of the next election cycle.
- The rapid reversal demonstrated the influence of football confederations, players and supporters when acting together.
FIFA scraps World Cup investment plan after global backlash
In a dramatic reversal, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has abandoned his controversial proposal to sell a stake in World Cup profits to private investors after facing widespread opposition across global football. The decision came only days after the plan was announced, following threats of boycotts, senior resignations and criticism from football bodies in Europe, Asia and North America.
What the proposal involved
Infantino’s proposal centred on creating a new commercial entity worth around USD 20 billion, known as FIFA Forward Enterprises, to manage the FIFA World Cup and other major tournaments, including the men’s and women’s Club World Cups.
Under the proposal, FIFA would retain majority ownership while selling up to 20–21% of the company to private investors, raising approximately USD 4.2 billion.
Reports suggested that a New York-based investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner was expected to become the anchor investor. FIFA member associations were also reportedly offered one-time payments of around USD 20 million if they approved the proposal before mid-September, a move critics viewed as an attempt to secure support.
Strong opposition across football
Resistance emerged almost immediately after the announcement.
UEFA convened an emergency meeting of its 55 member associations and unanimously agreed that European nations would boycott FIFA competitions if the proposal moved forward.
European football officials argued that the FIFA World Cup belongs to the sport itself and should never become a commercial asset available for private ownership.
The Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF also expressed serious concerns, saying they had not been properly consulted and had largely learned about the proposal through media reports.
The controversy quickly expanded beyond football administrators, with former players, politicians and supporters criticising the idea as excessive commercialisation of football’s most prestigious competition.
Internal revolt inside FIFA
The backlash was not limited to outside organisations.
Carlos Cordeiro, one of Infantino’s senior advisers and a former investment banker, resigned from his role, stating he could not support any attempt to sell a stake in the World Cup.
Shortly afterwards, FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour publicly criticised the proposal, claiming senior staff had not been properly informed and describing the project as the initiative of a single individual rather than a collective organisational decision.
His comments intensified concerns about transparency and governance within FIFA.
Infantino withdraws the proposal
Facing growing resistance, Infantino announced that the proposal would no longer proceed.
He acknowledged that the project had created deep divisions within world football and said preserving unity was more important than pursuing the investment plan.
The FIFA president stressed that the organisation’s objective remained to unite and develop football rather than create unnecessary conflict among its member associations.
What this means for Infantino
Infantino was re-elected without opposition in both 2019 and 2023 and remains eligible for one final four-year term under FIFA regulations.
However, the failed investment proposal has created one of the biggest leadership challenges of his presidency.
The next FIFA presidential election is scheduled for Rabat, Morocco, with nominations expected later this year. While no formal challenger has emerged, the episode has strengthened criticism of Infantino’s leadership style and decision-making process.
Although the World Cup remains under FIFA’s full control, the episode has left lasting questions about football’s governance and the balance between commercial growth and protecting the sport’s traditions. The proposal may have been withdrawn, but the debate over how football should finance its future is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.