FIFA Scraps Controversial World Cup Investment Plan
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has abandoned his controversial proposal to sell stakes in the governing body’s competitions to private investors after facing overwhelming opposition from football’s major confederations.
Infantino admitted the proposal had “created divisions” that were “no longer in the interest” of its original objective.
“As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”
The plan would have allowed external investors to buy minority stakes in a new commercial subsidiary that would oversee FIFA’s flagship competitions, including the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cups.
To encourage support, Infantino had offered FIFA’s 211 member associations $40 million (£30 million) if they backed the proposal.
Strong Opposition Forced FIFA to Reverse Course
The proposal quickly sparked widespread resistance across world football.
UEFA, European football’s governing body, threatened to boycott future FIFA World Cups if the proposal went ahead, arguing that the tournament should never become an investment product.
CONCACAF, which governs football in North, Central America and the Caribbean, also rejected the proposal, while the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) publicly aligned itself with UEFA and CONCACAF.
The growing opposition made it increasingly unlikely that Infantino could secure the 106 votes required for approval.
Initially, FIFA insisted the consultation process would continue, maintaining that:
“Nobody is selling football.”
However, with three major confederations united against the proposal, the governing body ultimately backed down.
Internal Fallout at FIFA
The controversy also triggered significant unrest within FIFA itself.
Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour revealed that FIFA’s own administration had been “deceived” over the proposal.
He described it as:
“The project of one person.”
Lamour added:
“A president must bring people together, unite them, and inspire them, but this was the opposite.”
He concluded by saying:
“If that means I lose my job, then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”
Meanwhile, Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance, resigned over the proposal.
In his resignation statement, Cordeiro described it as:
“A bad deal for football”
and warned it would:
“Mortgage football’s future.”
He also stressed that he:
“Unequivocally”
opposed the proposal and
“Did not accept the proposition”
that FIFA needed outside investors to unlock greater value.
According to Cordeiro, he had no involvement in developing the proposal.
Infantino Calls for Unity
Following the withdrawal, Infantino attempted to ease tensions, insisting FIFA’s objective had always been to strengthen football globally.
He said:
“Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve.”
Looking ahead, he added:
“Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game.”
Infantino maintained that the proposal had been designed to strengthen member associations, particularly:
“Especially in countries where support is most needed.”
AFC Welcomes Decision
AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa welcomed FIFA’s decision to abandon the proposal.
He said:
“The future of global football must always be shaped through proper consultation, collective dialogue and respect for the established governance structures of our game.”
What the Proposal Would Have Done
Under Infantino’s plan, FIFA would have created a new commercial company called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
The organisation intended to:
“Invite third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments”
in the new subsidiary.
Investment bank JP Morgan prepared a 25-page document outlining how expanded FIFA competitions could significantly increase commercial revenues.
The proposal projected higher payouts to member associations during the 2035–2039 cycle, driven by new commercial opportunities and:
“New business initiatives”
along with:
“Attracting top talent with incentive-driven compensation.”
The document described the FIFA World Cup as the:
“Most widely viewed”
sporting event globally while arguing that FIFA itself remained:
“Under-monetised.”
Notably, the proposal made no reference to the women’s game.
FIFA had expected the investor group to be led by Thrive Eternal, an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
Trump later said he had not discussed the proposal with Infantino despite the close relationship the two have developed since Trump’s return to office.
Pressure Mounts Ahead of FIFA Election
The failed proposal has cast uncertainty over Infantino’s political future.
The FIFA president, who has led world football since 2016, is expected to seek a fourth term at FIFA’s 77th Congress in Morocco next March.
Candidates have until 18 November to declare their intention to run.
Until this controversy emerged, Infantino had widely been expected to secure another term without opposition.
However, the backlash surrounding the investment proposal—and the internal divisions it exposed – has raised new questions over whether member associations will continue to back his leadership.
