The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has abandoned its controversial proposal to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup and other major competitions to private investors following strong opposition from continental football bodies and other stakeholders.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the decision on Saturday, saying the governing body would no longer pursue the initiative after consultations revealed deep divisions within the global football community.
According to Infantino, the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise Project was conceived to generate additional revenue that would strengthen FIFA member associations, particularly in countries where football development requires greater financial support.
“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,” he said.
He explained that the proposal had always been subject to consultation with FIFA member associations, the FIFA Council, continental confederations and other 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,” Infantino stated.
The decision follows widespread resistance led by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), which reportedly threatened to boycott the FIFA World Cup and other FIFA competitions if the proposal was approved.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) also opposed the initiative, aligning with UEFA’s position.
Before shelving the proposal, FIFA had defended the plan, insisting that it was not selling football but creating a new commercial structure that would generate more funding for national football associations.
Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, had publicly backed the proposal, arguing that it should be evaluated on its potential benefits rather than dismissed outright.
Pinnick, who serves as Deputy Chairperson of FIFA’s Men’s National Teams Competitions Committee, said the initiative could have increased financial support for FIFA member associations by up to $20 million each, in addition to existing allocations under FIFA’s Forward Programme.
Despite abandoning the investment plan, Infantino said FIFA would continue engaging football stakeholders in the coming weeks on alternative strategies to expand the game and provide greater support to member associations, particularly in developing football nations.
