CONCACAF rejects FIFA's World Cup stake sale proposal, citing governance concerns

CONCACAF, the governing body for football in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, along with its 41 member associations, has officially rejected FIFA's controversial proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup's commercial rights. The decision was announced Thursday, signaling a significant challenge to FIFA President Gianni Infantino's plans.

The confederation expressed "deep concerns" regarding the proposal's handling. Key issues cited include a perceived lack of due process, an "artificially short deadline" for consultation, and the absence of review or approval from FIFA's relevant governance bodies. CONCACAF emphasized its commitment to "service, transparent governance, and the long-term stewardship of football," warning against losing sight of these values.

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Concacaf is a confederation united by the love of our game, where football comes first. Guided by this philosophy over the past ten years, we have built, from the ground up, an organisation founded on service, transparent governance, and the long-term stewardship of football. History has shown FIFA and the football family what happens when the custodians of the game lose sight of these values.

While CONCACAF's rejection aligns with a broader pushback against the plan, it notably stopped short of endorsing UEFA's call for a boycott of the FIFA World Cup and other FIFA competitions. This stance highlights a division within football's global leadership regarding how to address FIFA's proposed "FIFA Forward Enterprise," which aims to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling minority stakes to private investors.

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With this in mind, Concacaf today convened a meeting of the presidents of its 41 Member Associations, together with its President, Council members, and its FIFA Council members, to discuss a proposal developed and presented by the FIFA President to establish 'FIFA Forward Enterprise' and sell interests in the FIFA World Cup to private investors. During the meeting, the membership expressed deep concerns about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal, the artificially short deadline imposed, and the absence of any review or approval by the relevant FIFA governance bodies. In addition, the need for private equity investment to fund new and existing FIFA Forward programmes following the most profitable FIFA World Cup in history was questioned.