FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced Friday that the international soccer federation will not proceed with a plan to sell stakes in future World Cup competitions to private investors. The decision comes after significant backlash, including a threatened boycott by UEFA, the governing body for football in Europe, and the resignation of Infantino's senior advisor, Carlos Cordeiro.
Infantino stated in a release that the proposal had generated divisions and was no longer in the organization's best interest. "Our purpose has always been - and will always be - to unite and improve," Infantino said. "As a result, this proposal will not proceed."
Carlos Cordeiro, who had also served as a senior advisor to the White House task force for the 2026 World Cup, voiced strong opposition to the plan, calling it "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." Cordeiro asserted that FIFA possesses substantial financial resources and questioned the necessity of "mortgaging football's future without any compelling justification."
UEFA's 55 member associations voted unanimously on Thursday to boycott all FIFA competitions if the proposal moved forward. The organization stated, "the World Cup is not for sale." The potential boycott would encompass all FIFA events, including the men's and women's World Cups, and the Club World Cup.
CONCACAF, the governing body for soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean, also declared its rejection of the plan following a meeting of its members on Thursday. The confederation cited "deep concerns about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal, the artificially short deadline imposed, and the absence of any review or approval by the relevant FIFA governance bodies." CONCACAF also questioned the need for private equity investment, noting that FIFA recently held its most profitable World Cup.
U.S. Soccer, a CONCACAF member, announced its support for the confederation's opposition to FIFA's plan.
Earlier in July, FIFA had outlined the proposal, explaining that investors would be selected based on specific long-term, governance, and strategic criteria, aiming for a geographically diverse group. The plan involved establishing a new subsidiary, the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to consolidate commercial and event operations. Infantino had previously stated that the move was intended to create a structure for growth where the commercial aspects of the game operate as a dedicated business, with its value shared globally.
Infantino concluded his statement on Friday by indicating his intention to convene stakeholders in the coming days to foster collaboration for the continued growth of football worldwide, especially in regions requiring support.