Concacaf Rejects Infantino's World Cup Sale Proposal, Citing Lack of Due Process

Concacaf, the governing body for football in North, Central America, and the Caribbean, has unanimously rejected FIFA President Gianni Infantino's controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. The confederation's 41 member associations convened for an extraordinary meeting and declared their opposition to the 'FIFA Forward Enterprise' program.

In a statement, Concacaf affirmed that "Concacaf and its 41 member associations have rejected the proposal. Concacaf reaffirms that the future of football – and its main asset – must remain in the hands of the football family." The proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise aimed to raise an initial capital of up to $4.2 billion, with a valuation of $20 billion, through long-term investors holding minority stakes.

Concacaf members expressed "deep concerns regarding the absence of due process surrounding the proposal, the artificially imposed deadline, and the lack of any review or approval from FIFA's governing bodies." They also questioned the necessity of private capital for financing FIFA programs, especially after what was described as the most profitable World Cup in history. The confederation is demanding greater transparency and proper governance, urging FIFA to explore how its existing reserves could be used to increase investment in football development within the region.

This decision follows a similar rejection from UEFA, the European football confederation, which previously announced that its member federations would boycott FIFA competitions if the proposal remained active. The combined opposition from Concacaf and UEFA presents a significant challenge to Infantino's plans, making it increasingly difficult for him to secure the necessary majority among FIFA's 211 member associations.