In brief
Fifa president Gianni Infantino halted a controversial plan to sell minority stakes in its major tournaments, including the World Cups, after widespread opposition from football bodies and governments. Member associations were offered a lucrative deal, but the proposal created divisions and prompted boycotts from UEFA and Concacaf. Infantino’s senior adviser resigned and the UK Prime Minister called the president "the wrong man" for the sport. Fifa now seeks to unite all parties under a new approach to strengthen football worldwide.
Fifa’s plan to offer private investors a slice of its biggest tournaments, including the men's and women’s World Cups, was cancelled after a storm of criticism from football federations and high‑profile leaders.
Infantino had pitched a scheme that would create a commercial arm called Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) and invite external investors to buy minority, non‑controlling stakes. In return, member associations could receive up to $40 million (£30 m) and an initial $20 million (£15 m) investment if they committed by 19 September.
The proposal sparked divisions across the sport. UEFA’s 55 member associations voted to boycott the World Cups if Fifa proceeded, while Concacaf’s 35 members rejected the plan. The Asian Football Confederation echoed their stance and called for solidarity with UEFA and Concacaf.
Infantino’s senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned, calling the deal a “bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future.” Fifa’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, stated the organization had been “deceived” about the project.
Even the UK Prime Minister said Infantino was “the wrong man” to lead Fifa, while the US President’s close ties to a venture capital firm at the heart of the proposal added to the controversy.
Faced with a potential mass withdrawal of support and a looming re‑election for March 2027, Infantino announced that the plan would not proceed and pledged to bring all parties together again to keep football united and improved.
This shift comes as Fifa awaits its 77th Congress in Morocco, where a new president will be chosen and the sport’s future will be charted under a new governance framework.
