… e pressure since the announcement in late July of proposals to create a commercial subsidiary to run its biggest events, such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.The plan would have allowed private investors to acquire stakes in a company created under the FIFA Forward Enterprise …
… ush({ mode: 'thumbnails-m', container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' }); In a statement, the federation "welcomes the acknowledgement of mistakes, the apology, the decision not to proceed with the FIFA Forward Enterprise …
… : 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' }); Infantino has come under intense pressure since first proposing and then shelving a plan to raise private investment for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise …
… It is over a week since Infantino withdrew his plan to raise private investment for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run the commercial side of World Cups. …
… In line with their confederation's statement, they welcomed the withdrawal of the controversial plan to create a commercial entity open to private investors known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise. …
… Subscribe to our newsletterIn line with their confederation's statement, they welcomed the withdrawal of the controversial plan to create a commercial entity open to private investors known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise.In a letter to the FIFA chief, Ecuadorian federation presid …
… Calls for him to step down had grown since he abandoned it last Saturday.FIFA said it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World …
… FIFA floated the plan last Tuesday, saying it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup. …
France's Football Federation announced it will not support Gianni Infantino's candidacy for FIFA president in the March 2027 election, joining other European federations including Belgium, Italy, Scotland, Sweden and Wales in withdrawing support. The FFF stated that trust in the FIFA president has been betrayed and that world football governance no longer reflects their values.
France's Football Federation announced it will not support Gianni Infantino's candidacy for FIFA president in the March 2027 election, joining other European federations including Belgium, Italy, Scotland, Sweden and Wales in withdrawing support. The FFF stated that trust in the FIFA president has been betrayed and that world football governance no longer reflects their values.
France has withdrawn support for Gianni Infantino's candidacy for FIFA president in the March 2027 election, aligning with Belgium, Italy, Scotland, Sweden and Wales. The French Football Federation cited a loss of trust in the FIFA president's governance of world football, citing his abandoned plan to bring private investment into the World Cups.
Saudi Arabia's Football Federation expressed support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino and welcomed his joint statement with Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom acknowledging mistakes and abandoning a plan to bring private financing into the World Cup, which had triggered global opposition.
UEFA, which had threatened to boycott FIFA competitions over plans to allow private investment in the World Cup and Club World Cup through a new commercial subsidiary, is expected to drop the boycott threat. The dispute arose after FIFA proposed creating a FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to attract private investors, which UEFA had criticized as a "shady, opaque backroom deal."
The football federations of the United States and Canada, two of the 2026 World Cup hosts, backed a statement from three confederations criticising FIFA president Gianni Infantino and calling for meaningful change to strengthen FIFA's governance, transparency and accountability.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino withdrew his plan to raise private investment for a new commercial subsidiary to run World Cup operations after global backlash. UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC released an open letter criticizing his leadership style, despite calls for unity.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino received backing from South American football figures during a visit to Colombia, where he attended the inauguration of the Colombian president. The visit comes as Infantino faces a crisis at world football's governing body, including loss of confidence from UEFA following backlash against his plan to allow private investment in the World Cup.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited Colombia on Friday and received backing from leading South American football figures including CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez and Colombian federation president Ramon Jesurun. The visit comes as Infantino faces criticism over a scrapped plan to open the World Cup to private investment.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino abandoned a plan to bring private finance into the World Cup after UEFA threatened to boycott tournaments, but UEFA said on Thursday that not all of its conditions have been met and reiterated the boycott threat. CAF backed Infantino while CONMEBOL criticized him.
UEFA said Thursday it would continue its boycott of FIFA men's and women's World Cups despite FIFA withdrawing its plan to open competitions to private investment. UEFA cited that a second condition for withdrawing its boycott threat has not been met.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has received "full support" from senior directors following a crisis meeting in Morocco, though the organisation apologised for errors made in handling a now-shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment, which had faced widespread criticism.
FIFA's leadership has given "full support" to president Gianni Infantino following his decision to shelve a controversial plan to open the World Cup to private investment, while acknowledging "errors" were made in how the proposal was handled after it was leaked to media.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino held emergency talks with other FIFA directors in Morocco on August 5, 2026, amid criticism over his shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment, with calls for his resignation growing since he abandoned the proposal.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino came under fire from within the governing body and externally over his since-abandoned proposal to open the World Cup to private investment. Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, appointed by Infantino as FIFA's chief of global football development, said the withdrawal of the project was "absolutely necessary," while FIFA secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom distanced himself from Infantino in an internal email, describing the plan as "a sad and reproachable series of events."
FIFA President Gianni Infantino held emergency talks with FIFA directors in Morocco on Wednesday as pressure mounts over his now-shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment. Former Barcelona and Real Madrid star Luis Figo publicly called for Infantino to step down, writing in the Daily Mail that he represents "the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour" in football.
Arsene Wenger, FIFA's chief of global football development, said the decision to scrap FIFA president Gianni Infantino's plan to sell a 20 per cent stake in the World Cup to private equity investors was "absolutely necessary and beyond question."
FIFA's chief of global football development Arsene Wenger called the decision to scrap Gianni Infantino's plan to sell a 20 per cent stake in the World Cup to private equity investors "absolutely necessary and beyond question." The plan had drawn widespread criticism and was rejected by three continental confederations, including UEFA which threatened to boycott FIFA competitions.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino abandoned a scheme to raise $4.2 billion through private investment after global backlash. A former IOC marketing chief told AFP that Infantino's leadership has become "radioactive" and his reign "is over," with UEFA and CONCACAF among governing bodies expressing loss of confidence in him.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has lost the confidence of UEFA after withdrawing a plan to raise up to $4.2 billion through private investment in World Cup and Club World Cup events. A former IOC marketing chief said Infantino's ten-year reign as head of world football is over and his leadership has become "radioactive" following the global backlash.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino came under fire from continental governing bodies after withdrawing a plan to allow private investment in the World Cup. UEFA said Infantino had lost their confidence through a "shabby, back room, opaque deal," while CONCACAF called for "a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency" and criticized his "poor governance and leadership."
FIFA president Gianni Infantino abandoned a proposed plan to allow private investment in the World Cup following widespread opposition, including from UEFA and other football stakeholders. The plan, which would have retained FIFA's majority share in a new entity while raising $4.2 billion, sparked a furious global backlash within days of being made public.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the organization has abandoned a proposal to allow private investment in the World Cup following fierce opposition from football officials globally. The plan, floated on Tuesday, would have created a commercial subsidiary valued at $20 billion that could raise up to $4.2 billion.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino vowed to proceed with consultation on a proposed private investment plan for the World Cup despite opposition from the Asian Football Confederation, UEFA, and CONCACAF. Senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest, stating he "cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup."
FIFA plans to create FIFA Forward Enterprise, a subsidiary bundling its money-making activities (broadcast rights, sponsorship, ticketing, licensing, event delivery) valued at around $20 billion, and would sell up to 20% stakes to outside investors while retaining majority control.
UEFA said Thursday it would boycott the World Cup if FIFA proceeds with private investor proposals, stating that no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition unless the proposal is abandoned and FIFA gives binding assurances it will never open governance or competitions to private ownership.
FIFA said on Friday it would continue consulting member associations on a proposed private investment plan for World Cup operations, even as UEFA pledged to boycott the World Cup and CONCACAF's 41 member associations rejected the proposal. FIFA's plan could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a $20 billion valuation of its commercial subsidiary FFE.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended a proposal to create a private subsidiary to commercialize the World Cup, characterizing it as "an opportunity but not an obligation" and arguing it would direct more football's commercial value to parts of the game that need it most.
The Confederation of African Football has called on its members to review FIFA's plan to sell stakes in major competitions including the World Cup through a new commercial subsidiary. FIFA aims to raise up to $4.2 billion by allowing private investors to acquire minority stakes in the entity.
CONCACAF followed UEFA in criticising FIFA's plans to sell a minority stake in its competitions, including the World Cup, through a semi-private subsidiary. FIFA said Tuesday it would retain a majority share in FIFA Forward Enterprise but hoped to raise $4.2 billion by selling minority, non-controlling interests to selected long-term investors.
FIFA announced plans to raise $4.2 billion by selling minority stakes in FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a semi-private subsidiary that will control its World Cup and other competitions business operations, while retaining a majority share itself.