UEFA Loses Confidence in FIFA Leadership After Investment Plan Abandoned

Sun Sep 06 2026 05:22:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

UEFA says it has lost confidence in FIFA president Gianni Infantino after he scrapped a controversial World Cup investment plan.

Following FIFA’s decision to drop a costly investment proposal, UEFA publicly stated it no longer has confidence in president Gianni Infantino. The move comes after the governing body’s proposed sale of stakes in competitions faced widespread criticism. UEFA’s statement claimed Infantino failed to deliver on promises made during his campaign, while FIFA officials acknowledged internal confusion over the proposal. Senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, labeling the deal a “bad” one for football’s future.

UEFA Loses Confidence in FIFA Leadership After Investment Plan Abandoned

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) publicly announced it no longer has confidence in FIFA president Gianni Infantino after he withdrew a controversial plan to sell stakes in World Cup competitions to private investors.

The plan, proposed in late 2025, was intended to create a revenue‑generating partnership for future tournaments, but was met with fierce opposition from member associations and other football confederations. UEFA had previously threatened to boycott World Cups if the proposal went forward.

In a statement released on Saturday, UEFA welcomed the decision to scrap the scheme and described it as "a victory for the whole game". The federation also criticised Infantino for failing to honour the promises he made during his 2016 campaign, citing his pledge to keep FIFA’s money in service of football development.

FIFA’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour confirmed that the organisation had been "deceived" about the project, while Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, calling the deal a "bad" one that could "mortgage football’s future".

The fallout has heightened scrutiny of FIFA’s governance, with several other confederations now openly questioning the board’s decision‑making processes.

For more details, visit BBC Sport Football and FIFA.com News.