English FA pushes FIFA for full World Cup project files

In a cramped office at the Football Association headquarters, the buzz of printers and the flash of a camera – Foto: / Jogada10 – capture the moment the Federação Inglesa de Futebol prepares its next move. President Debbie Hewitt stands beside a dossier marked "Copa do Mundo" and addresses Fifa, demanding full transparency.

Hewitt demands full disclosure

Debbie Hewitt, president of the Federação Inglesa, wrote to Gianni Infantino, asking Fifa to publish every document linked to the failed World Cup project. She argues that the public and the sport’s stakeholders deserve to see how the plan unfolded.

The FA chief wants the papers released before the FIFA Council convenes on 15 October, a meeting where she sits as one of eight vice‑presidents. Timing, she says, is crucial to allow members to scrutinise the proposal ahead of any vote.

FIFA Forward Enterprise meets resistance

Fifa’s proposal to launch a FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) sparked strong global resistance and European pressure. The new company would manage the commercial rights of the World Cup and other competitions, selling minority stakes to private investors.

In August, Infantino apologised for unveiling the private‑investment scheme, and the executive committee pledged a review of the procedure. UEFA, however, declared it had "lost confidence" in the president and launched legal actions in US courts to obtain the relevant documents.

Hewitt also pressed for the files concerning the reversal of the suspension of American striker Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup. The ban was lifted after a phone call from US President Donald Trump to Gianni Infantino, a detail the FA wants fully documented.

On 6 September, Infantino confirmed his intention to stand for re‑election at the FIFA Congress in March 2027. He remains the sole declared candidate, while UEFA has promised to put forward a viable alternative.

The FA’s push for openness could reshape governance of the sport’s biggest tournament, forcing FIFA to justify its commercial ambitions and restore confidence among its global partners.