FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s vision of turning the World Cup into a commercially independent venture suffered a decisive setback this week, as the proposed creation of a new entity to manage the tournament’s rights and a 20% equity stake sale to private investors was abruptly shelved.
A plan that divided football
European football’s governing body, UEFA, responded with a coordinated boycott of all FIFA‑sanctioned events, turning the dispute into a three‑day crisis that reverberated through the sport’s global governance.
The backlash was not limited to Europe; senior FIFA officials publicly accused Infantino of misleading staff and advancing a “project of one person,” while his close aide Carlos Cordeiro resigned, labeling the scheme “a bad deal for football.”
Infantino’s reputation has been marred by earlier controversies, from his defense of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup hosting to remarks that likened himself to a gay, disabled and migrant worker. His recent overtures to U.S. political circles, including a reported meeting with investors linked to former president Donald Trump, further fueled perceptions of a politicised agenda.
The Asian Football Confederation joined the criticism, calling the plan “totally unacceptable” and demanding sweeping institutional reforms, while analysts warned that the episode could jeopardise Infantino’s bid for re‑election at the upcoming FIFA congress in Morocco.
Although the proposal had promised much‑needed funding for national federations that rely on FIFA’s revenue, the episode underscores how quickly a top‑down initiative can unravel when key stakeholders feel sidelined.