FIFA President Gianni Infantino has abandoned a controversial proposal to sell shares in a newly created World Cup commercial entity.
The decision came on August 1, 2026, after mounting global pushback and boycott threats from European football body UEFA.
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The initiative aimed to centralize media rights, corporate sponsorships, and ticket distribution for men's, women's, and club World Cup competitions.
It would have been valued at approximately $20 billion, targeting $4.2 billion in external private investment.
Opposition from Football Federations
Strong opposition mounted quickly after UEFA, alongside CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, criticized the secrecy of the plan.
They threatened to boycott all international FIFA tournaments if the proposal moved forward.
Infantino acknowledged the division caused by the project. "Our goal has always been to unite and improve.
That is why this proposal will not go ahead," he said.
Internal dissent within FIFA had intensified prior to the cancellation. Top advisor Carlos Cordeiro resigned, and executive leadership made critical statements regarding the lack of consultation.
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FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour stated, "The board of FIFA itself was misled." He also noted that the unilateral announcement contradicted core organizational leadership values.
Former advisor Carlos Cordeiro condemned the structural setup before stepping down, calling it a "bad deal."
Concerns were raised across member associations regarding excessive commercial scheduling, potential match disruptions, and rising ticket costs.
UEFA officials characterized the decision-making process as "irresponsible" and "governance by intimidation."
CONCACAF emphasized that "The future of football must remain in the hands of our football family." The AFC aligned with critics questioning institutional transparency.
German Football Association President Bernd Neuendorf expressed irritation over learning about the $20 billion project through public media reports.
"I am also on the FIFA Council, the highest governing body, and would expect to be informed in advance about such important decisions," he said.
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With the commercial proposal fully scrapped, FIFA now shifts its focus toward standard preparations for upcoming international tournaments.
