FIFA drops plan to sell World Cup stakes after global backlash
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has withdrawn his proposal to sell minority stakes in World Cup operations to private investors, following widespread condemnation from across the football world. The decision was announced in a statement on Saturday, in which Infantino said he had "listened carefully to all the views" and that the project had "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 plan, first reported by UK newspapers The Times and the Financial Times, would have created a commercial subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to run competitions like the World Cup, selling broadcasting and sponsorship rights, tickets, and hospitality. FIFA would have sold minority stakes in FFE to private equity investors, with the proposed investor consortium led by "Thrive Eternal," a fund run by "Thrive Capital," which was founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Infantino, who has faced criticism for his close ties to the US president, had asked federations to approve the measure by September 19, reportedly offering associations $40 million (€35 million) if they backed the proposal. The reported involvement of the Kushner family raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, as well as broader questions about transparency and corruption.
UEFA and other confederations react
European football's governing body UEFA welcomed the withdrawal on Saturday, calling it a "victory for the whole game." UEFA had earlier said on Thursday that its members had unanimously agreed to boycott all FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, unless the plan was withdrawn. "The World Cup is not for sale," UEFA said at the time.
In a statement after the withdrawal, UEFA said that while it welcomed the decision, the "current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family," and that the "task of rebuilding trust in FIFA" had only just begun. UEFA also criticized the process, saying "we cannot keep going on like this with secret schemes on fast track timescales," and indicated it would work with other confederations to prevent a recurrence.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF, which governs football in North America and the Caribbean, soon joined UEFA in condemning and rejecting the plans, although they stopped short of threatening a boycott.
Wenger and Lamour speak out
Arsene Wenger, FIFA's chief of global football development and the former Arsenal manager, issued a statement on Tuesday distancing himself from the plan. "I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports," he said, adding that the "decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity."
Wenger's comments came after FIFA's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, said last week that staff at the global governing body had been "deceived" by Infantino. Lamour's remarks were reported by multiple outlets.
Analysis
The collapse of the plan marks a significant setback for Infantino, who had championed the idea as a way to generate billions in revenue for FIFA. The proposal drew criticism not only from confederations but also from within FIFA's own ranks, highlighting the deep divisions the plan created. The involvement of the Kushner family, with its ties to the Trump administration, added a political dimension that amplified opposition.
The withdrawal leaves open questions about how FIFA will finance future projects and whether Infantino's leadership will face further challenges. UEFA's statement, which spoke of rebuilding trust, suggests that the fallout from the episode is far from over.