European football body declares no confidence in FIFA's Infantino after World Cup sell-off plan

Lead

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has scrapped a plan to sell a stake in the World Cup and other FIFA events to private investors after days of opposition from confederations and national associations.

The proposal, first floated on Tuesday, would have created a commercial subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise, valued at $20 billion, with FIFA saying it could raise up to $4.2 billion from private investors, Dawn reported. According to the same report, FIFA said the project could give each of its 211 member associations a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027 and increase their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.

Opposition grew rapidly. UEFA, European football's governing body, said none of its national teams would participate in any FIFA competition while the plans remained alive. "The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product," UEFA said, as quoted by Dawn. "No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale."

In a statement, Infantino said: "Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed." Dawn reported the statement.

The withdrawal has not ended the confrontation. UEFA said the current FIFA leadership "has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family." Africa News reported that the English Football Association plans to formally withdraw its support for Infantino's candidature.

Coverage Comparison

The reports from Africa News, Al Jazeera, Dawn and France 24 — English approached the story from different angles but agreed on the central sequence. Africa News led with the English FA's planned withdrawal, describing it as a major blow to Infantino, and noted that the Welsh and Finnish associations had already dropped their support for him. Al Jazeera focused on the breadth of the outcry, which it called "overwhelming," and quoted UEFA and the Asian Football Confederation's president. Dawn's report contained the most detailed account of the proposed financial structure, and also included a welcoming response from the Mexican Football Federation. France 24 — English set the episode in the context of a fight over Infantino's presidency, quoting UEFA's warning that "no option should be off the table."

Key Claims

• FIFA scrapped the private investment proposal days after presenting it; the plan was announced on Tuesday and had collapsed by the end of the week.
• UEFA said it had lost confidence in FIFA's leadership and said no part of the World Cup should be surrendered to private investors.
• The Asian Football Confederation welcomed the withdrawal; its president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, said the future of global football must be shaped through proper consultation.
• CONCACAF said, according to Africa News, that FIFA leadership had "stopped putting football first."
• Africa News reported that the English FA plans to write to FIFA to formally withdraw support for Infantino, and that the Welsh and Finnish associations had already withdrawn theirs.
• Dawn and France 24 — English reported that senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned; France 24 — English added that Cordeiro urged other senior FIFA staff to speak out.
• France 24 — English reported that FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour issued a statement saying FIFA staff were deceived by Infantino's lack of openness.

Perspectives

Infantino's public response framed the withdrawal as consistent with FIFA's purpose. UEFA described the abandonment of the plan as "a victory for the whole game" but warned that "the task of rebuilding trust in FIFA has only just begun." Its president, Aleksander Čeferin, has led the fight against Infantino, according to France 24 — English, and UEFA said "no option should be off the table."

The Asian Football Confederation welcomed the withdrawal and called for a different style of decision-making. Dawn quoted the AFC as saying that any initiative that could affect global football should be "presented and discussed with the Confederations, the FIFA Council, Member Associations (MAs) and other stakeholders in a timely, transparent and meaningful manner." Al Jazeera quoted the AFC's president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, saying the future of global football must be shaped through proper consultation.

CONCACAF said, according to Africa News, that FIFA's leadership had "stopped putting football first." The English FA, Africa News reported, plans to write to FIFA to make its withdrawal of support formal, following the Welsh and Finnish associations.

Inside FIFA, France 24 — English reported that senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned and urged other senior staff to speak out. The same report said chief operating officer Kevin Lamour issued a statement that FIFA staff had been deceived by Infantino's lack of openness.