ZURICH, (AFP): FIFA President Gianni Infantino has withdrawn a controversial proposal to allow private investment in the FIFA World Cup after facing strong opposition from football confederations led by UEFA.
The proposal, unveiled earlier this week, sought to establish a commercial subsidiary known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to manage competitions including the World Cup and the Club World Cup. FIFA said the initiative could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion.
Under the plan, each of FIFA’s 211 member associations would have received a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027, while funding for the 2027–2030 cycle would have increased from $8 million to $20 million.
Announcing the decision to withdraw the proposal, Infantino said FIFA’s objective had always been to unite and strengthen global football.
“Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve,” Infantino said, adding that the proposal “will not proceed.”
How Have Football Governing Bodies Responded?
UEFA welcomed the withdrawal but sharply criticised FIFA’s leadership, saying Infantino had lost the confidence of European football and many other members of the global football community.
In a strongly worded statement, UEFA accused FIFA of abandoning its commitments to transparency and described the proposal as a “shabby, back room, opaque deal.” The European governing body also questioned Infantino’s leadership ahead of his expected bid for a final term as FIFA president in 2027.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also welcomed the decision, stressing that any initiative with global implications should be discussed transparently with confederations, FIFA Council members, and national associations before being advanced.
The proposal had also drawn criticism from CONCACAF, while CONMEBOL requested additional details on the project’s governance and long-term impact. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had planned to review the proposal with its members before its withdrawal.
Pressure on FIFA increased after senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, describing the initiative as “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.”
Infantino said he would now focus on rebuilding consensus among football stakeholders and continuing efforts to expand the global game.