Infantino Calls Off Plan to Sell Stakes in World Cup

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has abandoned his plans to commercialize the World Cup through a venture with outside investors, according to a press release issued on Friday night. Infantino's $20 billion vision, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise, faced opposition from three continental soccer bodies – UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC – who all expressed varying degrees of rejection for the plan.

Additionally, two top FIFA officials criticized the proposal on Friday, highlighting divisions among stakeholders that they believed were detrimental to the game's objective of unity and improvement.

The decision to abandon the plan came after Infantino listened to the concerns raised by all parties involved. He stated that the project had created divisions that were no longer in the best interest of FIFA's mission. Infantino pledged to bring all interested parties together in the coming days and weeks to continue growing football, particularly in countries that need support the most.

Despite the plan's demise, Infantino's authority over FIFA might be weakening. Following the plan's rejection, UEFA released a statement criticizing Infantino for failing to deliver and lacking transparency. They accused him of making secretive decisions with a fast track timeline that would benefit faceless individuals with questionable benefits to the game. UEFA also demanded accountability for those responsible.

CONCACAF echoed similar sentiments, expressing its members' reservations about Infantino's leadership. They stated that a proposal of such magnitude should not have progressed without proper consultation and that the situation demanded a comprehensive reckoning with the current presidency.

Other key FIFA officials also voiced their opposition to the plan. Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino's top advisor and former president of U.S. Soccer, resigned from his role due to concerns about the proposal being a "bad deal for football." Kevin Lamour, FIFA's COO, also expressed reservations about the lack of answers to fundamental questions regarding the proposal, further fueling the backlash against Infantino's leadership.

The backlash against Infantino's plan was swift, with UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC all condemning the proposal and emphasizing their dissatisfaction with the lack of transparency and consultation. The decision to abandon the plan leaves Infantino's grip on FIFA uncertain, as he may now face increased scrutiny and demands for accountability from member associations.