FIFA Cancels Controversial Plan to Sell World Cup Stakes

FIFA has officially abandoned a controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. The decision, announced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Friday, follows intense global pressure and a threat from European nations to boycott the tournament. The plan, which was only introduced on Tuesday, aimed to create a new commercial business to manage major events like the World Cup and the Club World Cup.

According to NPR Business, the most controversial part of the proposal was the plan to sell a minority stake to a group of private investors. This group included a firm managed by Joshua Kushner, the brother of U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Many critics viewed this move as an attempt to turn the world’s most popular sporting event into a private business asset. UEFA, the governing body for European football, famously declared that the "World Cup is not for sale."

The reaction from the football world was immediate and severe. European nations took the rare step of threatening to boycott the World Cup—meaning they would refuse to participate—unless FIFA stopped the plan entirely. As reported by Deutsche Welle (DW), other regional groups, including the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF, which represents North and Central America and the Caribbean, also joined in condemning the proposal. While these groups did not threaten a boycott, their rejection made it clear that the plan lacked the support needed to move forward.

Internal opposition within FIFA also grew rapidly. Carlos Cordeiro, a top adviser to the FIFA President, resigned from his position on Friday to show his disagreement with the project. Furthermore, FIFA’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, spoke out against the plan in a statement to the Associated Press. Lamour described the proposal as the "project of one person" and claimed that FIFA staff members had been kept in the dark about the details. His willingness to risk his job to oppose the plan highlighted the deep divisions within the organization.

In his statement, Gianni Infantino explained his decision to stop the project. "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 said. He added that FIFA’s goal remains to "unite and improve" the sport. This about-face marks a difficult moment for the FIFA President, who had recently overseen a highly profitable men's tournament in North America.

Despite the success of recent events, Infantino has faced several controversies during his time in office. These include public frustration over high ticket prices and criticism regarding his close relationship with the U.S. President. Additionally, FIFA recently faced questions after it suspended a red card—a penalty that removes a player from a game—given to U.S. player Folarin Balogun following a request from the Trump administration. These events have contributed to a growing sense of unease among many football associations.

Looking ahead, the focus has shifted toward repairing the damage caused by the failed proposal. UEFA stated that while they welcome the withdrawal of the plan, the "task of rebuilding trust in FIFA" has only just begun. The European body noted that they cannot continue to operate with "secret schemes" and plans that are pushed through too quickly. UEFA plans to work closely with other football confederations in the coming weeks to ensure that a similar situation does not happen again.

For now, the future of FIFA leadership remains a topic of discussion. Infantino is widely expected to run for a third term next year, but this recent defeat has left him in a weaker position. As the organization moves forward, it must balance its financial goals with the need to maintain the support of its 211 member associations. The decision to scrap the investment plan is a clear sign that the global football community is no longer willing to accept changes that they believe threaten the integrity of the game.