Fifa scraps World Cup stake sale after global backlash

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has abandoned a controversial proposal to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors, following a furious global backlash that threatened to fracture the sport. The decision, announced in an official statement, caps a week of revolt that saw European football federations threaten a boycott and one of Infantino's own senior advisers resign in protest.

Proposal collapses after immediate opposition

Infantino had unveiled the plan, known as the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), earlier this week. It would have sold a significant share of the commercial rights to the men's and women's World Cups, as well as the Club World Cup, to outside investors. In return, Fifa promised to distribute over $10bn (£7.5bn) to its 211 member associations, with optional $20m (£14.8m) payments for those who signed up by the 19 September deadline.

But the scheme ignited immediate fury across the football world. The Uefa, Europe's governing body, held an emergency meeting on Thursday and agreed upon a boycott of future Fifa tournaments if the plan was not shelved. The Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf, which covers North and Central America, also issued scathing statements opposing the proposal.

Internal dissent and resignations

The rebellion extended to Infantino's closest allies. Carlos Cordeiro, a senior advisor and former U.S. Soccer president, resigned on Friday in protest. Fifa's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, publicly rebuked Infantino for a “serious lack of respect” in trying to force the initiative through without meaningful consultation. Reports also emerged that Thrive Capital, the venture capital firm leading the proposed investor group, had expressed doubts about proceeding amid the uproar.

In his statement, Infantino acknowledged the damage, saying: “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.” He added, “Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”

President's future under scrutiny

Although Infantino retains strong support in Africa, the mass opposition from Europe, Asia, and the Americas leaves his position severely weakened. The climbdown may not be enough to heal the deep animosity that has built up. Many member associations were already disenchanted by his handling of the Folarin Balogun affair, which occurred just three weeks ago during the World Cup. Now, Uefa and other confederations have intensified their search for alternative candidates to challenge Infantino in next year's Fifa presidential election.

Observers note that Infantino could still attempt to tap into Fifa's reserves, which stand at around $4bn (£2.97bn), to fund the promised payouts and win back support. However, given the scale of the internal revolt and the collapse of his flagship initiative, his presidency is at its most vulnerable point since he took office.

Looking ahead

Infantino has said he intends to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks “in the spirit of shared interest in our game.” Yet the scars from this episode are likely to linger. The proposal was seen by many as a dangerous commercialisation of football's most treasured tournament, and the fact that it took a worldwide protest to stop it has eroded trust in Infantino's leadership. With the next Fifa Congress looming, the focus now shifts to whether any credible challenger will step forward – and whether Infantino can survive the consequences of his own overreach.