SAT AUG 01 2026-theGBJournal| FIFA President Gianni Infantino has abandoned plans to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup after fierce opposition from senior officials, member associations and European football leaders, marking a dramatic retreat from one of the most contentious proposals of his presidency.
In a statement on early Saturday, Infantino confirmed the proposal would not proceed, saying the initiative had become too divisive despite its stated objective of generating additional funding for FIFA’s development programmes.
“The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed,” Infantino said.
He added that the project was always contingent on broad backing from FIFA’s member associations, the FIFA Council, confederations and other stakeholders.
“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.”
“Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve.
As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”
Infantino said FIFA would now seek to reunite stakeholders “in the spirit of shared interest in our game” while continuing efforts to expand football globally, particularly in countries requiring greater financial support.
The U-turn follows mounting resistance to a proposal reportedly valued at around $20 billion that would have allowed private investors to acquire a stake in the World Cup’s commercial rights.
Reports suggested Infantino had held discussions with an investment firm linked to Joshua Kushner, the brother of President Jared Kushner’s son-in-law.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has denied speaking with Infantino about the proposed transaction.
Opposition intensified after UEFA reportedly threatened a boycott, confederations lined up against the plan and senior FIFA executives publicly broke ranks.
Former FIFA senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest, warning that selling stakes in the World Cup would be damaging for football.
FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour also publicly criticised the proposal, saying staff had been “deceived” by what he described as “the project of one person.”
“If that means I lose my job, then so be it,” Lamour said.
The collapse of the proposal represents a rare setback for Infantino and underscores growing tensions over the governance of world football, with member associations and senior officials successfully forcing FIFA’s leadership to abandon one of its most ambitious commercial plans.
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