A plan that unraveled
FIFA president Gianni Infantino had announced a scheme to create a new commercial entity that would manage the World Cup and other international tournaments, offering a 20% equity stake to private investors.
The idea, which Infantino said would channel much‑needed revenue to national federations, was presented without consultation and was quickly condemned by Europe’s governing body.
Opposition mounts
UEFA issued a stark warning, declaring that it would boycott all FIFA events unless the plan was withdrawn, a move that threatened the organization’s cohesion and sparked a wave of protest among other confederations.
Within days, senior FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, calling the arrangement “a bad deal for football,” while Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour alleged that staff had been misled about the proposal’s details.
The episode also brought Donald Trump into the narrative, as the former U.S. president claimed he had asked Infantino to lift a red‑card suspension for American forward Folarin Balogun during the tournament.
Implications for the FIFA presidency
The involvement of Thrive Capital, a New York‑based investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner with ties to the former U.S. administration, added a political dimension, linking the soccer governing body to high‑profile political figures.
The fallout has left Infantino increasingly isolated less than two weeks after the most lucrative World Cup in history, forcing him to confront a leadership vacuum that could jeopardize his bid for a fourth term, which requires a two‑thirds majority in the first round of voting.
Analysts such as sports marketing expert Bob Dorfman suggest that a public apology and a clear commitment to transparency may be the only way for Infantino to regain the trust of the national federations that have grown skeptical of his top‑down approach.