FIFA President Gianni Infantino has abandoned plans to sell private investment stakes in the governing body’s flagship competitions, including the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cups, after facing overwhelming opposition from football associations worldwide.
The proposal, which reportedly offered FIFA’s 211 member associations up to $40 million each in exchange for support, sparked fierce criticism from major football confederations and senior officials. Critics argued the plan risked compromising the long-term future and independence of the sport.
Announcing the decision, Infantino acknowledged that the proposal had become divisive and no longer served its intended purpose. “It became clear that this proposal created divisions that are no longer in the interest of its original objective. As a result, this proposal will not proceed,” he said.
The turning point came after UEFA’s 55 member associations threatened to boycott future FIFA World Cups if the proposal went ahead. Concacaf, representing North and Central America and the Caribbean, also rejected the plan, while the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) declared its solidarity with UEFA and Concacaf.
The backlash intensified after FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour admitted the organisation’s administration had been “deceived” over aspects of the project. Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance, resigned, describing the proposal as “a bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future.”
With UEFA, Concacaf and the AFC together controlling 136 of FIFA’s 211 votes, the proposal no longer had any realistic chance of securing the majority support required for approval.
Infantino, who is seeking a fourth term as FIFA president at the FIFA Congress in March, said he would now focus on rebuilding consensus and bringing football’s stakeholders together in the spirit of unity.
