World Cup
Infantino scraps $20bn World Cup spin‑off after European walkout
In a packed press room on Friday, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced the $20 billion equity sale of the World Cup would be abandoned after fierce opposition, including a threatened walkout by European federations and pushback from FIFA’s own governing bodies.
Infantino had pitched folding FIFA’s commercial operations – which run the men’s and women’s World Cups and the Club World Cups – into a separate $20 billion spinoff company. The plan would have created a new entity to own the tournament’s commercial rights.
FIFA identified the lead investor as a New York investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner and son‑in‑law of United States President Donald Trump. The firm was positioned to provide the $20 billion capital for the spinoff.
Infantino confirmed the proposal will not proceed, saying, “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.”
The reversal followed days of mounting resistance across the sport, from North America – fresh off hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup – to Europe and beyond. European federations threatened a walkout, arguing the plan turned the World Cup into an investment product.
UEFA and its 55 member associations announced a boycott of all FIFA competitions, calling the plan an attempt to treat the World Cup as an investment product rather than a sporting legacy. The Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF also lodged objections, together representing roughly two‑thirds of FIFA’s voting membership.
Infantino’s senior adviser, former U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro, resigned in protest, saying he wanted no part of a deal he deemed damaging to member associations and the sport’s long‑term future. FIFA’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour publicly warned staff had been misled and said he was prepared to lose his job over speaking out.
President Donald Trump denied any discussion with Infantino about the World Cup stake sale, despite earlier having asked the FIFA chief to overturn a red card for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun.
Infantino’s 64‑team World Cup plan meets UEFA boycott threat
FIFA had set a September 19 deadline for member associations to back the plan, threatening steep funding cuts for non‑supporters, while simultaneously fast‑tracking a move to a 64‑team World Cup for 2030, heightening federations’ sense of being rushed.
It remains to be seen whether calls for Infantino’s ouster will continue. The debate underscores the fragile balance between commercial ambitions and football’s traditional governance.