FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on Saturday the cancellation of a proposed plan to permit private investment in the World Cup, following significant opposition from football officials worldwide.
Infantino stated, "Our purpose has always been -- and will always be -- to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed." The governing body had presented the initiative earlier in the week, suggesting it could generate up to $4.2 billion. This was based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new entity, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), intended to manage commercial aspects of events like the World Cup and Club World Cup.
Under the proposed plan, if approved, each of FIFA's 211 member associations could have received a one-time payment of $20 million in early 2027. Additionally, their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle was projected to increase from $8 million to $20 million.
The Asian Football Confederation, representing 47 nations, welcomed the withdrawal, emphasizing that any global football initiative requires timely, transparent, and meaningful discussion with all stakeholders. The Mexican Football Federation echoed this sentiment, stating that unity among confederations and federations had been prioritized for the benefit of the sport.
Earlier, UEFA, the governing body for European football, had declared that its national teams would not participate in any FIFA competition as long as the proposals remained active. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF also condemned the move, with UEFA asserting that "The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product" and is "not for sale."
Pressure intensified with the resignation of senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro, who characterized the plan as detrimental to member associations and the sport's future. Infantino acknowledged that the project had "created divisions" and was no longer aligned with its initial objectives. He stated his intention to reconvene stakeholders to restore harmony and continue fostering football's growth globally.
