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FIFA scraps controversial World Cup privatisation plans
SEN • August 1st, 2026 12:50 pm
Plans to privatise part of the FIFA World Cup have been pulled after FIFA President Gianni Infantino faced severe backlash to his proposal.
On Tuesday, FIFA stated that it would look to sell stakes in FIFA tournaments in both the men’s and women’s game to private investors through a subsidiary known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
The international governing body was intending to sell up to 20% to these investors with the hopes of generating up to $4.2 billion USD ($5.9 billion AUD) by the end of the year.
Following the announcement, confederation bodies such as UEFA (Europe), CONMEBOL (South America) and the AFC (Asia) have all released statements criticising the proposal, with UEFA announcing they would boycott FIFA competitions should the FFE remain in place.
In response to the criticism, Infantino has pulled back these plans, admitting the plan has created divisions within the football world.
“The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed,” it said.
“And more so, as we said from the outset, to do this only if a majority of the FIFA Member Associations were in support and always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA Council, the Confederations and wider stakeholders.
“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.
“Our purpose has always been - and will always be - to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.
“Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support.”
The next men’s FIFA World Cup takes place in 2030, which will be hosted in Spain, Morocco and Portugal with matches also held in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the tournament’s origins.
