FIFA has abandoned its controversial proposal to open the FIFA World Cup to private investment following widespread opposition from football governing bodies across the globe.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the decision on Saturday, saying the governing body’s priority remains protecting the unity of world football.
“Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed,” Infantino said in a statement.
The proposal, unveiled earlier this week, sought to establish a commercial subsidiary known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to manage major competitions, including the FIFA World Cup and Club World Cup. FIFA projected the venture could attract up to $4.2 billion in private investment, based on a valuation of $20 billion.
Under the plan, each of FIFA’s 211 member associations would have received a one-time payment of $20 million in early 2027. The governing body also proposed increasing funding for member associations from $8 million to $20 million during the 2027–2030 cycle.
However, the proposal faced swift resistance from football authorities worldwide.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) welcomed FIFA’s decision to withdraw the plan, stressing that any initiative capable of reshaping global football must be discussed openly and transparently with confederations, member associations, the FIFA Council, and other stakeholders.
The Mexican Football Federation also praised the move, saying the decision placed unity among football’s governing bodies above all else.
Earlier in the week, UEFA warned that none of its member associations would participate in FIFA competitions as long as the proposal remained under consideration. UEFA argued that the World Cup should never be treated as a commercial asset.
“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,” UEFA said.
Opposition intensified on Friday when senior FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, describing the proposal 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.”
Meanwhile, South America’s governing body, CONMEBOL, requested more details about the project’s structure, governance, and potential impact before expressing support.
Infantino: Proposal Created Divisions
Announcing the withdrawal, Infantino said the initiative had been designed to strengthen FIFA’s member associations and would only have proceeded with broad backing.
“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place,” he said.
Although FIFA had earlier insisted that “nobody is selling football” and pledged to continue consultations with stakeholders, mounting opposition ultimately forced the governing body to reverse course.
Political criticism also emerged. A day after the European Union commended UEFA for defending the integrity of football, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Infantino was “the wrong man” to lead FIFA.
Infantino said his immediate priority is to rebuild consensus within the global football community while continuing efforts to expand the game, particularly in developing football nations.
“Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective of continuing to grow football everywhere, particularly in those countries that most need our support,” he said.
