FIFA has abandoned its controversial proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors after weeks of backlash from major football confederations and senior officials.
President Gianni Infantino confirmed the decision on Friday, July 31, 2026, admitting that the plan had “created divisions” within the global football community. The proposal, which sought to raise more than $20 billion through a new commercial unit called FIFA Forward Enterprise, would have seen private investors acquire a 20 percent stake in the World Cup’s commercial rights.
The plan promised each of FIFA’s 211 member associations $20 million in 2027, alongside increased funding allocations for 2027–2030. However, critics argued that the move risked commodifying football’s biggest competition and undermining its universal character.
Opposition was swift and widespread. UEFA threatened to boycott the World Cup if the plan went ahead, while CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) issued similar rejections. The backlash intensified after FIFA senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, describing the deal as “a bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future.”
Infantino’s retreat marks a significant setback for his leadership, as the proposal had been positioned as a transformative financial package for global football. Instead, the collapse has reinforced calls for transparency and consultation in FIFA’s governance.
