FIFA has reaffirmed its full support for president Gianni Infantino while apologising for the controversy surrounding its now-abandoned proposal to open the World Cup to private investment.
The governing body issued the statement on Wednesday after a high-level meeting in Rabat, Morocco, where senior officials acknowledged that mistakes were made in handling the proposal, even as they expressed confidence in Infantino’s leadership.
The proposal, which was withdrawn last Saturday after widespread opposition, would have created a new commercial subsidiary known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). FIFA estimated the venture could be valued at $20 billion and potentially raise up to $4.2 billion through private investment.
According to FIFA, the initiative would have provided each of its 211 member associations with a one-time payment of $20 million in early 2027. It also promised to increase development funding for member associations from $8 million to $20 million during the 2027–2030 cycle.
Instead of winning support, the plan sparked fierce criticism across the football world. UEFA strongly opposed the proposal, even threatening to boycott the World Cup if it moved forward. Faced with mounting pressure, Infantino abandoned the initiative.
“Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve,” Infantino said after announcing the withdrawal.
Following Wednesday’s meeting, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom and members of the FIFA Management Board reaffirmed their backing for Infantino, describing him as “the only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member Associations.”
The statement also admitted that the process had been mishandled.
“It was not the intention for the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations to feel excluded from the process, and the process should have been handled differently,” FIFA said.
Officials also acknowledged that additional errors occurred after details of the proposal were leaked to the media. FIFA said it had apologised to its Council and member associations and pledged to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
A review of the entire process will now be conducted, with findings expected to be presented at the next FIFA Council meeting. FIFA confirmed that the FFE proposal is now officially “off the table.”
One of those believed to have attended the Rabat meeting was Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom, whose internal email criticising the proposal was leaked earlier this week.
Later on Wednesday, Infantino attended the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match between Zambia and Malawi in Rabat, where he was seen alongside Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa.
Morocco is set to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, and Lekjaa has been among the few football leaders to publicly defend Infantino following the failed proposal. He praised the FIFA president’s decision to withdraw the plan, describing it as a wise move made in the interest of unity, and reiterated his support for initiatives aimed at developing world football.
Before the controversy, Infantino had been riding high after overseeing what FIFA described as its most successful World Cup, featuring an expanded 48-team tournament co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. He was widely expected to secure a fourth and final term as FIFA president at next March’s Congress in Rabat, with no challenger having emerged.
However, the privatisation proposal dramatically changed the mood.
UEFA condemned the plan as a “shabby, back-room, opaque deal,” accusing Infantino of undermining trust within world football.
“The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family,” UEFA said.
CONCACAF also criticised the proposal, calling for “a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency” and accusing Infantino of poor governance and leadership.
Adding to the pressure, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose country co-hosted the 2026 FIFA World Cup, said on Wednesday that he no longer had confidence in Infantino’s ability to lead the organisation.
