World Cup
Infantino pulls $4.2bn World Cup stake plan after UEFA boycott threat
FIFA President Gianni Infantino makes a U‑turn, changing the plan to sell the World Cup stake, after intense backlash that saw UEFA threaten to boycott future tournaments. The reversal was announced in a statement issued on Friday night, ending a proposal that aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling about a 20 % stake in a new FIFA events unit valued at $20 billion.
The original scheme would have created a separate commercial entity to run FIFA events, including the World Cup, and the proceeds were intended to fund the FIFA Forward Enterprise project for member associations. By selling a 20 % share, FIFA hoped to generate the $4.2 billion target while retaining control of the competition’s commercial rights.
Backlash erupted quickly, with UEFA issuing severe threats of boycotts against both men’s and women’s World Cups if the plan proceeded. Internal officials also voiced strong opposition, prompting the governing body to reconsider the proposal.
Other confederations joined the criticism: CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation released statements rejecting the plan, though they stopped short of a boycott, while the Oceania Football Confederation said its executive committee would address the issue in August.
The internal fallout deepened when senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned with immediate effect, calling the deal a bad one for football. FIFA’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour added that staff felt deceived by Infantino, describing the proposal as a project of one person.
Infantino explained the shift, stating, “The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations… Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions… Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”
He added that his intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks, emphasizing a shared interest in growing football everywhere, especially in countries that need support the most.
Infantino scraps FIFA Forward Enterprise amid confederation backlash
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham also weighed in, telling reporters on Friday that Infantino was the wrong man to lead the organisation. The episode highlights how a high‑profile commercial ambition can clash with the sport’s governing structures, leaving FIFA to rebuild consensus after a dramatic U‑turn.
Read Also:FIFA Senior Adviser Resigns Amid Infantino’s Plan To Sell World Cup Stake. The episode underscores the fragile balance between commercial growth and the unity of football’s global community.