FIFA scraps controversial World Cup private equity plan following boycotts
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has withdrawn a controversial proposal that would have allowed private investors to acquire a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup.
The governing body scrapped the plan following severe internal backlash and threats of a tournament boycott from major continental confederations.
The proposed financial agreement involved selling up to 20% of a newly formed commercial company to external investors. This independent entity would have controlled lucrative broadcasting and sponsorship rights for both the men’s and women’s global tournaments.
Infantino had given member associations a strict 53-day deadline to back the privatisation model without a formal vote, pushing for a capital raise estimated at $10bn. Member nations were reportedly told they must agree to the sale plan or risk missing out on $40mn in potential additional funding.
The president initially defended the sweeping changes by claiming the move would foster the democratisation of football worldwide, arguing it would allow associations to shape their own futures rather than relying on others.
Unprecedented boycott threats
However, the initiative faced an unprecedented wall of resistance across the global game. UEFA spearheaded the aggressive opposition, convening an urgent emergency meeting with all 55 of its member associations.
Following the summit, European officials threatened to completely boycott future FIFA events if the governing body proceeded with the private equity sale. The Asian Football Confederation, CONCACAF and Conmebol soon joined the European authorities in voicing their formal disapproval, effectively forming a unified front that crippled the initiative.
Following the severe backlash, Infantino rapidly abandoned the proposal. He stated that the initiative had caused far greater division than the organisation had initially anticipated and would therefore not be implemented. The sudden reversal marks a significant political loss for the FIFA president and represents one of the most severe internal conflicts of his tenure.
High-profile internal resignations
The fallout from the aggressive privatisation push extended deep into FIFA’s executive ranks. Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino who also served on a White House World Cup panel, resigned from his position in direct protest against the scheme. Furthermore, FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour broke ranks to publicly criticise the administrative process surrounding the proposed capital raise.
AFC welcomes reversal
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa emerged as the first major continental leader to formally respond, issuing a strong statement welcoming the total withdrawal of the proposed framework. Shaikh Salman asserted that the future direction of international football must be shaped exclusively through proper consultation, collective dialogue and absolute respect for established institutional governance structures.
He commended the patience, solidarity and unity displayed by the AFC’s member associations during the crisis, noting they stood together and entrusted the confederation to demand transparency. While other global bodies have yet to comment on the collapse of the initiative, the AFC confirmed its readiness to support future projects that genuinely foster unity and deliver meaningful benefits across the entire football ecosystem.
