FIFA Drops $20 Billion World Cup Investment Plan Amid Backlash

‘It has become clear that the project has created divisions,’ FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino at a news conference in Mexico City on June 10, 2026. Eduardo Verdugo/AP Photo

FIFA has abandoned its plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to investors after the proposal faced opposition from some of its member associations, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Friday.

The global football governing body had planned to raise $4.2 billion by selling up to a 20 percent stake in FIFA Forward Enterprise, a $20 billion subsidiary created to consolidate FIFA’s commercial and event operations.

Infantino said in a post on X on Friday that the project could proceed only if it had the backing of a majority of the FIFA Member Associations.

“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has 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,” he said.

“Our purpose has always been—and will always be—to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”

Europe’s governing soccer body, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), has said that its 55 members ​unanimously rejected the proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA events to private investors.

UEFA said its national teams will not participate in any FIFA competition unless the proposal is withdrawn entirely and FIFA provides binding assurances that it will not open its governance to private ownership.

“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent.

“No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale,” UEFA said in a July 30 statement.

The next World Cup is due to be held in 2030, with three countries cohosting, including two European nations, Spain and Portugal. The third host is the North African nation of Morocco.

The 2026 World Cup, held by FIFA across the United States, Canada, and Mexico and won by Spain, was the largest in the tournament’s history.

Under the proposals, FIFA would retain control of the enterprise, but offer minority stakes to private investors, raising up to $4.2 billion.

The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) also opposed the proposal, citing concerns over the lack of due process surrounding the plan.

In a July 30 statement, the 41-member CONCACAF questioned the need for private equity investment to fund FIFA competitions after what it called the “most profitable FIFA World Cup in history” last month.

The Asian Football Confederation said on July 31 that it stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF with regards to FIFA’s proposal.

“The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world’s leading football nations.

“Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered,” it stated.

In a July 31 statement, FIFA emphasized that “nobody is selling football” and said “incorrect media reports” had disrupted consultation process for the proposal.

FIFA said the plan was intended to allow member associations to have “meaningful ownership” of the commercial opportunity of football in their respective countries, and that it “does not come at the cost of either the spirit or the governance of FIFA or football itself.”

“Without the support of the majority of [member associations], FIFA’s commercial activities would remain unchanged. [FIFA Forward Enterprise] would not be established,” it said.

Rachel Roberts contributed to this report.