FIFA Halts Plan to Sell World Cup Stakes Amid Opposition

FIFA President Gianni Infantino was pictured with the World Cup trophy at the FIFA’s Home of Football in Zurich after the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Play-Off draw on November 20, 2025. This event followed FIFA’s decision to cancel a contentious plan to sell portions of the World Cup to private investors due to strong resistance from European countries and internal dissent.

Cancellation of the Investment Plan

FIFA’s decision to abandon the investment plan signifies a significant defeat for Infantino, who had advocated for the establishment of a commercial venture to leverage FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup and the Club World Cup. The cancellation occurred shortly after the conclusion of a profitable men’s tournament in North America.

Contentious Agreement with Private Investors

The proposed plan involved selling a minority stake to private investors, including a company led by Joshua Kushner, linked to Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law. In response to opposition, Infantino acknowledged the divisions caused by the plan, stating, “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.” He affirmed the project’s cancellation.

European Boycott Threat

European nations immediately objected to the plan, threatening to boycott the World Cup if not withdrawn. UEFA, the soccer governing body in Europe, claimed the deal would result in the “sale” of football. Although CONCACAF and the AFC also opposed it, they did not join the boycott threat. Critics within FIFA contributed to Infantino’s setback, with Carlos Cordeiro, a top adviser, resigning, and Kevin Lamour, the organization’s chief operating officer, openly criticizing the plan in a statement to the Associated Press.

Consequences for Infantino

This development is a significant blow to Infantino, who had overseen the most lucrative World Cup, with FIFA projected to earn $15 billion in four years, mainly from the recent tournament in North America. Despite this financial success, Infantino faced criticism for various controversies, including high ticket prices and an award of a “Peace Prize” to President Trump. Additionally, FIFA suspended a red card for U.S. men’s player Folarin Balogun after requests from Trump’s administration.

Infantino, believed to be seeking a third term, pointed to the financial gains achieved, intended for distribution among FIFA’s 211 members. His plan was viewed as excessive, increasing pressure from both inside and outside FIFA. In a statement, Infantino committed to reconciliation, saying, “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.”