FIFA scraps private investment plan after backlash

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has abandoned a controversial plan to bring private investment into the World Cup after facing a united front of opposition from football officials worldwide. The governing body had proposed creating a commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to manage events like the World Cup and Club World Cup, seeking to raise up to $4.2 billion based on a $20 billion valuation.

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Our purpose has always been, and will always be, to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.

The plan, announced Tuesday, included a one-off payment of $20 million to each of FIFA's 211 member associations in early 2027 and an increase in their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million. However, the proposal quickly ignited fierce backlash.

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Any initiative that may impact global football should be “presented and discussed with the Confederations, the FIFA Council, Member Associations (MAs) and other stakeholders in a timely, transparent and meaningful manner.

European football's governing body, UEFA, declared that none of its national teams would participate in any FIFA competition as long as the proposals remained active. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF also condemned the move, with the AFC emphasizing the need for transparent and meaningful consultation with all stakeholders. The Mexican Football Federation echoed this sentiment, stating that unity among confederations and federations was prioritized.

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The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.

Adding to the pressure, senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro resigned, calling the idea "a bad deal for FIFA’s member associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game." The South American confederation CONMEBOL also demanded more information. Infantino, in a late-night statement, acknowledged that the project had "created divisions" and would not proceed, stating his purpose was always to "unite and improve."

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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.