FIFA chief Infantino abandons investor plan for World Cup

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino announced at 02:18 on 1 August 2026 that the organisation’s proposal to sell stakes in its business to external investors for the football World Cup has been withdrawn. The decision follows internal disagreement that the plan had caused.

The original proposal involved offering up to 20 percent of FIFA’s commercial interests to raise as much as $4.2 billion. The funds were to be generated by selling a share of the World Cup business to private investors.

Infantino said the initiative sparked a split within the governing body and therefore would no longer be pursued. He communicated the cancellation in a statement released during the night.

Infantino’s U‑turn on World Cup stake sale as FIFA faces member revolt after UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF reject plan in a bruising debate

"Our goal has always been – and will always remain – to unite and improve the sport," Infantino added, reaffirming FIFA’s core mission.

UEFA declares European teams will boycott FIFA tournaments

European (UEFA), Asian (AFC) and CONCACAF federations publicly opposed the scheme. Their unified resistance made it impossible for Infantino to secure a majority among FIFA’s 211 member associations, leaving the plan dead on arrival.