
2 months · 15 summary articles
FIFA President Gianni Infantino abandoned a controversial plan to sell minority stakes in World Cup commercial rights to private investors on Saturday, following fierce opposition from football confederations and national associations. The proposal, valued at up to $4.2 billion based on an initial $20 billion equity valuation, would have bundled rights to the men’s and women’s World Cups and the Club World Cup under a new subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, with private investors holding roughly 20 percent.
Wales became the first national association to publicly withdraw support for Infantino’s re-election bid on Monday, citing “failures in good governance, process, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communication and good judgment.” The Football Association of Wales stated in its announcement that “failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept.” England’s Football Association also confirmed it would withdraw its backing, according to The Times .
UEFA escalated pressure by threatening legal action against Infantino, the proposed investors, and others involved in the plan. In a formal letter, UEFA demanded the preservation of all documents related to the abandoned scheme and warned it was considering legal proceedings, arbitration, or complaints to regulatory authorities. The European governing body also criticized the “secret schemes on fast track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game” .
The backlash extended beyond Europe. CONCACAF, the Asian Football Confederation, and three of FIFA’s six confederations had threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions if the plan proceeded, forcing its withdrawal. Meanwhile, Infantino sought political support in the U.S., attempting to reach President Donald Trump by phone after the proposal collapsed, according to the New York Post. The FIFA chief also scheduled a call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday .
Infantino acknowledged the plan had “created divisions” that were “no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.” He stated FIFA’s purpose “has always been—and will always be—to unite and improve,” and pledged to reconvene stakeholders in the coming weeks .
The election for FIFA president is scheduled for March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco. Calls for Infantino’s resignation have grown, with LaLiga president Javier Tebas and other critics arguing his leadership has eroded trust. Potential challengers, including CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, have emerged as alternatives .
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