In brief
Gianni Infantino, FIFA president since 2016, called off a proposed plan that would allow private investors to buy stakes in the federation’s flagship competitions, including the World Cup, after widespread criticism from member associations, UEFA, CONCACAF, the AFC and even UK officials. The original proposal promised a $40m payout to any association that agreed to the plan, but a lack of support made it infeasible. Infantino announced the decision in a silent statement at 00:30 BST on August 1, 2026, citing the need to avoid “divisions” and restore unity within football. The move comes as Infantino faces looming re‑election in March 2027, with questions about the future direction of FIFA.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has abandoned a controversial plan that would have allowed private investors to buy stakes in the federation’s biggest competitions, following widespread opposition from national associations, key governing bodies and politicians.
Infantino first revealed the proposal on 28 July, offering FIFA’s 211 member associations a $40m (£30m) payout if they backed a model in which a new subsidiary – Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) – would be open to non‑controlling private investment. The strategy was designed to unlock up to €24m (£20.5m) of annual revenue across the 2035‑2039 cycle.
The plan ignited fury. On 30 July, UEFA’s 55 member associations voted to boycott World Cups if the scheme proceeded, a move echoed by 41 CONCACAF members. The Asian Football Confederation joined the opposition at the end of the week, and senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, calling the deal a “bad deal for football.”
The backlash was swift enough that Infantino announced the scheme would not go ahead the next day. In a letter posted at 00:30 BST, he said the initiative had created “divisions” that were no longer in the interest of football’s original goals.
Infantino’s decision comes amid growing uncertainty over his future. He will seek re‑election for a fourth term at FIFA’s 77th Congress in March 2027, a process that now faces thousands of euros in the balance, as key associations question his leadership style.
Key Takeaways
- Original offer: $40m funding for each member that adopted the investment scheme.
- UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC opposed the proposal, threatening to boycott FIFA tournaments.
- The proposal would have created a commercial subsidiary open to non‑controlling private investment.
- Infantino scrapped the plan citing the need to preserve unity and avoid division within football.
- The cancellation comes as Infantino positions himself for a contested re‑election in 2027.
