FIFA Abandons Plan to Sell Minority Stake in World Cup Commercial Unit

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has abandoned a proposal to sell a 20 per cent stake in a new commercial unit overseeing FIFA World Cup operations, in a transaction that could have raised up to USD 4.2 billion. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the decision in a statement issued after three of the sport’s regional confederations opposed the plan.

The proposal, announced earlier that week and made contingent on approval by FIFA’s member associations, envisaged a subsidiary named FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), valued at approximately USD 20 billion, to operate the commercial side of the sport as a dedicated business. Under the structure, FIFA would have retained 80 per cent ownership, with external investors acquiring minority, non-controlling interests. Thrive Capital’s Thrive Eternal fund would lead the investor group. Infantino stated that the project was intended to strengthen FIFA’s member associations and the sport worldwide, particularly in countries where financial support is most needed. FIFA had set September 19 as the deadline for member associations to back the proposal.

The plan drew opposition from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). UEFA, which represents 55 member associations, voted at an emergency meeting to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, if FIFA proceeded, stating that “the World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product” and that “no part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors.” UEFA also recorded a loss of confidence in Infantino.

CONCACAF, representing 41 member associations, formally rejected the proposal, questioning the need for private-equity investment following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The AFC, representing 47 member associations, announced its opposition shortly afterwards. Together, the three confederations account for more than half of FIFA’s 211 member associations.

Following the opposition, Infantino withdrew the proposal. In his statement, he said the FFE project had been intended as a basis for further strengthening FIFA’s member associations and the sport. The proposal, contingent on a member vote, will not proceed.

Amid the continuing fallout, the heads of six Arab football federations, i.e. those of Morocco, a co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, along with Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon and Sudan, four of them FIFA Council members, issued a joint statement on August 13, 2026 expressing their “full support” and “confidence” in Infantino. The statement came as Infantino faced pressure over his position, with the football associations of Ireland, England and Wales having withdrawn support for his re-election as FIFA President in March.

Separately, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) rejected a complaint brought against Infantino by the human rights group FairSquare, on the ground that the matter fell outside the jurisdiction of its Ethics Commission. An IOC spokesperson stated on July 24, 2026, that the Ethics Commission had analysed the complaint and found that it referred only to FIFA’s decisions on its governance and management, including its relations with government, and to FIFA’s implementation of the rules of the sport, both of which fell outside the scope of the IOC Code of Ethics. FairSquare, which lodged the complaint on July 14, 2026, had alleged that Infantino repeatedly breached the IOC’s rules on political neutrality by offering his political support to US President Donald Trump. The group had earlier filed a similar complaint with FIFA’s own Ethics Committee. Infantino has been a member of the IOC since 2020.