FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on Thursday that he is abandoning a proposal to sell the governing body’s share of World Cup revenues to private‑equity investors, a move that had sparked alarm across the global soccer community.
Europe and North America rally against the deal
European football associations and their counterparts in North America issued a joint statement warning that they would boycott any FIFA‑sanctioned competition if the private‑equity transaction proceeded. The coordinated threat underscored the depth of concern among the continent’s power brokers.
Infantino later explained that the rifts created by the scheme no longer aligned with FIFA’s founding mission. He emphasized that the organization’s priority remains the development of the sport rather than short‑term financial gains.
The federation also clarified that no matches or tournaments are being put up for sale, and that ongoing consultations will continue to explore alternative funding models without compromising the integrity of the competition.
Meanwhile, attention is turning to the next scheduled FIFA event, the Women’s Under‑20 World Cup, which is set to be hosted by Poland on September 5. The tournament will serve as a showcase for the next generation of talent on the world stage.
In parallel, the four British football associations have emerged as the sole candidates to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup, with a final decision expected to be announced on November 23.