FIFA president Gianni Infantino has withdrawn a proposal that would have allowed private investors to buy minority stakes linked to the governing body’s major competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups. Infantino said the project had created divisions that no longer served its original objective and confirmed that it would not proceed.
The decision followed opposition from UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation. UEFA’s 55 member associations had agreed to boycott FIFA competitions if the proposal remained in place, while Concacaf members rejected the plan and the AFC publicly supported both confederations’ positions.
Proposal Included a New Commercial Subsidiary
FIFA planned to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise, a subsidiary that would manage commercial and event operations across its tournament portfolio. Its original announcement said outside parties could make minority, non-controlling investments while FIFA retained authority over competitions, governance and sporting decisions.
A document prepared by JPMorgan projected higher payments to FIFA’s 211 member associations during the 2035 to 2039 funding cycle. Infantino offered each association access to an initial $20 million if it accepted the proposal by September 19, with potential total funding reaching $40 million per member.
FIFA expected US venture capital firm Thrive Capital, founded by Joshua Kushner, to lead the proposed investor group. Reports differed on the amount the transaction might raise, with estimates ranging from about $4.2 billion for a roughly 20% stake to as much as $10 billion.
Opposition Made Approval Unlikely
Infantino needed support from at least 106 of FIFA’s 211 member associations. UEFA has 55 members, Concacaf has 35 and the AFC has 46, giving the opposing confederations enough potential votes to prevent approval.
The AFC said the dispute had exposed weaknesses in FIFA’s consultation and decision-making processes. AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa welcomed the withdrawal and called for decisions about global football to follow established governance structures and collective consultation.
Concacaf said its members rejected the proposal, while South American governing body Conmebol requested more information about its structure, governance and possible effects. CAF and the Oceania Football Confederation had planned to discuss it in August.
Senior FIFA Officials Criticise the Project
FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour said the administration had been misled about the proposal and described it as the project of one person. Carlos Cordeiro resigned as Infantino’s senior adviser for global strategy and governance, saying the agreement would place football’s future at risk.
The dispute has increased pressure on Infantino before FIFA’s presidential election in March 2027. He has announced that he will seek another term, while candidates have until November 18, 2026, to submit nominations.
Infantino said he would bring interested parties together in the coming weeks. He maintained that the proposal was intended to provide more support to member associations, particularly in countries where additional funding was needed.
Featured image credits: Wikimedia Commons
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