- FIFA has withdrawn its World Cup investment proposal
- Global football bodies strongly opposed the plan
- Infantino says the decision will help unite football
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has withdrawn the governing body’s controversial proposal to sell minority stakes in its major competitions after facing widespread opposition from football associations across the world.
In a statement, Eko Hot Blog gathered that Infantino said the proposal had created unnecessary divisions within global football and no longer served its intended purpose.
EDITOR’S PICK
- APC Youth Wing Opens Applications for 2026 Zacch Adedeji Taxation, Fiscal Policy Fellowship
- ‘Make Him President, Let’s See If Nigerians Become Millionaires’ – Presidency Mocks Obi
- Super Falcons Shift Focus to Zambia Clash After Malawi Defeat
“It has become clear that the proposal has created divisions that are no longer in the interest of the objective we set out to achieve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed,” he said.
The proposal would have allowed private investors to acquire minority stakes in FIFA’s flagship tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, through a new commercial subsidiary known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
FIFA had also promised each of its 211 member associations up to $40 million if they supported the plan.
The project, however, drew strong criticism from football bodies around the world.
UEFA led the resistance, with its 55 member associations voting to boycott FIFA competitions if the proposal was implemented.
CONCACAF, representing North, Central America and the Caribbean, also rejected the initiative, while the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) declared its support for UEFA and CONCACAF’s position.
The growing opposition made it virtually impossible for FIFA to secure the majority support required to approve the proposal.
The controversy also triggered internal unrest within FIFA.
Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino on global strategy and governance, resigned in protest, describing the proposal as harmful to the future of football.
FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour also criticised the initiative, saying it had been driven by a single individual and had divided the organisation instead of uniting it.
Infantino said he now intends to rebuild trust among football stakeholders and bring member associations together to pursue the shared interests of the sport.
The abandoned proposal had aimed to attract outside investment through FIFA Forward Enterprise, a new commercial entity that would oversee the organisation’s major competitions.
Investment firm Thrive Eternal had been expected to lead a consortium of investors interested in the project.
Despite the setback, Infantino remains eligible to seek a fourth term as FIFA president at the organisation’s Congress in Morocco next March, although the failed proposal has increased scrutiny over his leadership.
FURTHER READING
