FIFA Abandons $20B World Cup Investment Plan

FIFA has abandoned its $20 billion plan to sell stakes in World Cup tournaments, following widespread backlash from major football governing bodies. The proposal, which aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling roughly 20% of FIFA Forward Enterprises (FFE), was met with immediate resistance led by UEFA and other regional federations.

UEFA has lost confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino and stated that 'no option should be off the table' as it pursues a full review of his now-abandoned plan. The governing body of European soccer, headed by Aleksander Čeferin, issued a blistering statement hours after FIFA announced its withdrawal from the private equity plan.

'We must identify those responsible and hold them to account,' UEFA said on Saturday. 'No option should be off the table. The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.'

Infantino was forced to scrap the plan early Saturday after his senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, who sat on a White House panel, resigned and Asia’s soccer body joined Europe and North America in opposing it. UEFA's 55-member nations had agreed to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions over Infantino’s plan on Thursday.

Infantino proposed creating a $20 billion company to run the World Cup with private investors, but drew backlash that grew every day since Tuesday’s announcement. North America's CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation also said they opposed the plan. Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs banker who represented FIFA on the White House Task Force for the World Cup, resigned on Friday and urged other senior FIFA staff to speak out.

'I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,' Cordeiro said in a statement. Hours later, FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour issued a statement saying FIFA staff were deceived by Infantino’s lack of openness in planning the sale over recent months and that the project must not continue.

The controversy highlights deep divisions within global football governance as FIFA navigates between expanding revenue streams and maintaining the sport's integrity. Despite the opposition, some individual member nations may not follow their federations’ line. The Czech Football Association President David Trunda told Sky Sports that he could see the 'positive impact of FIFA’s intentions,' while the Mexican Football Federation said it would study the proposal before deciding its position.

FIFA has responded to the criticism by stating that it would not go ahead with the plan without the support of the majority of its member associations. The organization stressed that no single entity can claim to represent all member associations and urged each one to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future.