FIFA President Gianni Infantino has decided to abandon his controversial plan to privatize the World Cup following significant backlash from football governing bodies across Europe, Asia, and North America. The proposal aimed to sell a stake in future tournament profits to private equity investors, which sparked widespread opposition and calls for a review of FIFA's governance.

The Privatisation Proposal and Its Fallout

The controversy revolved around the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, which sought to merge the sale of commercial rights—including broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing, and licensing—with the operational management of tournaments like the World Cup. Reports indicated that Infantino was considering a salary of $30 million, along with bonuses, to lead the new commercial entity, a stark contrast to his official salary of 4.8 million Swiss francs as president of the non-profit organization.

Initially, Infantino had given football associations until September 19 to support proposals that included a £30.1 million incentive for accepting private investment in future World Cup profits. Despite the promise of over $20 million as a one-time developmental investment for each FIFA member association, the plan ultimately failed due to strong opposition.

Widespread Opposition and Reactions

Resistance to the privatization plan emerged rapidly across various continents. England and the other 54 UEFA member nations reached a unanimous agreement during crisis talks regarding proposals aimed at generating £3.1 billion in investment for FIFA tournaments. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin expressed strong condemnation of the plan, emphasizing that the World Cup should not be treated as an investment product.

“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football's greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.”

Following UEFA's lead, the 35 FIFA-registered nations of CONCACAF also rejected the proposal, while the Asian Football Confederation issued a statement expressing their opposition and concerns. Ultimately, the number of FIFA members opposing the plan reached 90, falling short of the 106 associations needed to pass the proposal had it gone to a vote.

In light of the mounting pressure, UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC released a joint letter asserting that football belongs to no individual, reinforcing their collective stance against the privatization of the World Cup.