Pressure Mounts on FIFA President Over World Cup Privatization Plan

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is under increasing pressure to abandon a proposed World Cup privatization plan. The plan could attract investments up to $20 billion. However, it has faced significant criticism from many soccer governing bodies worldwide.

The latest objections arose on Friday as a senior adviser to Infantino resigned in protest. Additionally, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) expressed ‘deep concern’ over the establishment of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), the fund’s designated name. ‘The AFC stands with UEFA and CONCACAF in expressing serious concerns about FIFA’s proposal to introduce private investment into its flagship competitions and the decision-making process surrounding FFE,’ the AFC stated.

UEFA, the European football group, and CONCACAF, which represents North American teams, including the United States, have already condemned the idea. On Thursday, CONCACAF released a statement criticizing the lack of due process around the proposal, the short deadline, and the absence of a review or approval by relevant FIFA governance bodies. They also questioned the necessity of external investment following the most profitable FIFA World Cup to date.

Infantino’s undisclosed project was made known on Tuesday. The plan involves spinning off FIFA’s commercial operations into a new $20 billion FFE subsidiary, with 20% ownership by private investors. The primary investor is a New York-based investment firm created by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, a son-in-law of President Donald Trump.

The recent World Cup co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada was a major success, attracting record audiences and widespread praise for the venues and cities hosting over 100 matches. Spain emerged victorious over Argentina with a 1-0 win in extra time at New York’s MetLife Stadium on July 19.

The Asian Football Confederation issued their statement amid FIFA’s claim that media reports disrupted the planned consultation process. FIFA maintained its commitment to the project despite the growing opposition among its 211 members. ‘The consultation process will proceed to ensure each member can vote based on facts,’ FIFA stated on Friday.

Senior Adviser Resigns in Protest

The escalating crisis reached Infantino’s close circle when his senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned in protest. Cordeiro criticized the $20 billion commercial subsidiary plan backed by Joshua Kushner, describing it as ‘a bad deal for football.’ Though Cordeiro held a significant role as Infantino’s adviser and a representative on the White House World Cup Task Force, he stated he had no involvement in the investment plan.

Cordeiro’s resignation intensified scrutiny on Infantino. As a former U.S. Soccer Federation president, Cordeiro often accompanied Infantino on visits to meet President Trump and engaged in the administration’s World Cup task force meetings. ‘I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally,’ Cordeiro declared.