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Infantino scraps controversial FIFA World Cup sell-off plan
Published 08:21 1 Aug 2026 BST
Updated 10:11 1 Aug 2026 BST
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The backlash has caused a u-turn
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has scrapped a controversial plan to sell off stakes in football's biggest tournaments, abandoning the project after widespread opposition. Infantino confirmed the U-turn on Friday, days after European football's governing body Uefa voted to boycott the 2026 World Cup if the scheme went ahead.
The proposal would have opened up private investment in FIFA competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups. Infantino had offered all 211 member associations $40m (£30m) each to back the plan, but the idea drew fierce resistance from within the game.
Why Infantino abandoned the plan
Infantino said it had become clear the project had "created divisions" that were "no longer in the interest" of its original objective. FIFA's chief operating officer Kevin Lamour said the governing body's own administration had been "deceived" about the project, while Uefa's 55 member associations had voted on Thursday to boycott World Cups if the plans proceeded, as BBC Sport reported.
"As a result, this proposal will not proceed."
Gianni Infantino, FIFA president
The reversal is a significant climbdown for Infantino, FIFA president since February 2016, and leaves questions over his authority after one of the most public rebellions of his tenure. Attention now turns to how the governing body funds its expanding tournament calendar without the rejected investment model.
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