Zurich, Switzerland – FIFA President Gianni Infantino has withdrawn his plan to create a new company to manage the commercial rights for FIFA tournaments, after the proposal faced widespread opposition from continental federations, as well as criticism from within FIFA itself.
Earlier in the week, Infantino had proposed establishing a company valued at approximately $20 billion to manage the commercial rights for FIFA tournaments, with a 20% stake to be sold to private investors.
Infantino announces the withdrawal of the proposal
In a statement released Friday evening, Infantino confirmed that the project would not proceed, explaining that recent consultations had shown the proposal had caused division within the football family.
He said: “After carefully listening to all opinions, it became clear that the project had created divisions, and regardless of the level of support it received, it no longer served its intended purpose”.
He added that he will hold a series of meetings with various parties in the coming period to discuss new mechanisms for supporting the development of football worldwide, especially in countries that need more support.
American Investors Behind the Project
According to ESPN, the project involved creating a new commercial company to manage the World Cup, the Club World Cup, and other FIFA competitions, with private sector investors as minority partners.
The network indicated that the main investor was a New York-based investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
Resignations and Criticism from Within FIFA
Infantino’s reversal came hours after the crisis within FIFA escalated, with Carlos Cordeiro, a senior advisor to the FIFA president, announcing his resignation in protest against the project.
Cordeiro, who has extensive experience in the banking sector, confirmed that he could not support any move involving the sale of part of football’s most important assets, calling on FIFA officials to clearly state their positions.
Kevin Lamour, FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer, also criticized the project, stating that staff within the federation had not received a full picture of its details and that the plan should not proceed.
Widespread Continental Opposition
UEFA was the first to reject the project, announcing that its 55 member associations would boycott FIFA tournaments if the plan went ahead, emphasizing that “the World Cup is not for sale”.
Later, CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) and the Asian Football Confederation joined the opposition, demanding a review of FIFA’s decision-making mechanisms and broader consultations before any projects affecting the future of FIFA tournaments are proposed.
Infantino’s Future
The crisis has cast a shadow over Infantino’s future within FIFA, amid escalating criticism directed at him just months before the opening of nominations for the FIFA presidential election.
Although the FIFA president was seen as the favorite to remain in office, the failure of the new company project could increase the pressure on him and open the door to demands for a reassessment of his leadership before the next election.
