FIFA scraps World Cup investment plan after widespread backlash

FIFA has abandoned a controversial plan to sell a 20% stake in a new commercial subsidiary, valued at $20 billion, to private investors after widespread opposition from global football bodies, internal dissent, and a historic boycott threat from European nations. The decision, announced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Friday, is a notable setback for the Swiss official’s vision to raise up to $4.2 billion to fund global football development.

The proposal, first unveiled earlier in the week, aimed to create a commercial entity called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would manage major tournaments like the World Cup. Under the plan, external investors—led by the U.S.-based venture capital firm Thrive Capital, founded by Joshua Kushner (brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law)—would acquire minority stakes, with FIFA offering each of its 211 member associations an upfront payment of $40 million if they approved the deal by September 19.

European football’s governing body, UEFA, led the backlash, accusing FIFA of commodifying the sport’s “soul.” On Thursday, UEFA’s 55 member nations unanimously voted to boycott all FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, unless the plan was scrapped. The Confederation of North, Central, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also rejected the proposal, with the AFC declaring solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF. Together, these confederations represent 143 of FIFA’s 211 members, far exceeding the majority needed to block the initiative.

Infantino acknowledged the divisions in a statement, saying, “Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.” He emphasized that FIFA’s goal was to “unite and improve” the sport, adding, “This proposal will not proceed.”

The plan faced immediate internal resistance. Infantino’s senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned on Friday, calling the proposal “a bad deal for football” and warning it would “mortgage football’s future without any compelling justification.” FIFA’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, alleged that staff were “deceived” by the initiative, describing it as “a project of one person.”

The backlash extended beyond football officials. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham criticized Infantino, stating he was “the wrong man to lead the organisation.” Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) paused their evaluations of the plan, while South American governing body CONMEBOL requested further details.

Infantino’s decision to abandon the proposal came amid mounting pressure. Despite initial assertions that FIFA would “not sell football,” the governing body faced a crisis of legitimacy. The plan had also drawn scrutiny for its lack of transparency, with critics like Stuart Dykes of Football Supporters Europe condemning decisions made “behind closed doors by a small group of people.”

The fallout has intensified scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership as he campaigns for re-election in March 2027. North American football chief Victor Montagliani is reportedly considering a challenge, while internal factions within FIFA remain fractured. Infantino pledged to “bring all interested parties back together” to focus on “growing football everywhere,” but the episode has underscored deepening tensions between FIFA’s commercial ambitions and the values of its member associations.

The collapse of the plan leaves FIFA’s commercial operations unchanged, but the incident has left lasting scars. UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC have vowed to demand greater governance and consultation in future decisions, while the broader football community continues to grapple with the balance between financial sustainability and the sport’s cultural identity.