FIFA President Gianni Infantino had unveiled a daring scheme to sell a 20% stake in future World Cup profit revenues to private investors, a move that would have unlocked an estimated $4.2 billion for the governing body.
The plan, which would have funneled the proceeds through a new entity called FIFA Forward Enterprise, was pitched as a way to double the $10 million annual grant to each of FIFA’s 211 member federations, with the possibility of raising that amount to $24 million by 2038.
But the proposition quickly unraveled under a wave of criticism. European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, declared it would boycott all FIFA competitions unless Infantino abandoned the scheme, while senior FIFA officials and a global chorus of fans warned that private control over tournament scheduling and broadcasting could undermine the sport’s integrity.
The backlash was not limited to Europe. FIFA’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour publicly denounced the proposal, and veteran adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, calling it a “bad deal” that threatened the organization’s unity. Even members of Infantino’s traditional support base in Africa remained silent, leaving the president‑elect isolated.
A Plan That Never Materialized
With the November 18 deadline for candidate registration for the March 2027 election in Rabat fast approaching, speculation about potential challengers has intensified. Names such as Nasser al‑Khelaïfi, president of Paris Saint‑Germain, and Victor Montagliani, a Canadian FIFA vice‑president, have entered the conversation, while the mention of Donald Trump underscores the political ripple effects.
In the end, Infantino abandoned the controversial stake sale, conceding that the proposal had become a liability rather than a catalyst for growth. The episode has left FIFA at a crossroads, with the organization’s next leadership battle poised to shape the future of global soccer.