{
  "id": 90754,
  "title": "Fifa’s Infantino sought Trump’s backing after failed World Cup sell-off plan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/fifas-infantino-sought-trumps-backing-after-failed-world-cup-sell-off",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-03T14:35:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/08/03/fifa-s-infantino-sought-trump-s-backing-after-failed-world-cup-sell-off-plan"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Fifa president Gianni Infantino reached out to the Trump administration for assistance after his attempt to sell a portion of the World Cup's commercial rights was unsuccessful, according to a New York Post report citing sources close to the situation. The proposal to sell approximately 20% of the rights to a private investor-backed entity was abandoned on Friday, sparking a wave of criticism towards Infantino. The US president and Infantino have maintained a close relationship, frequently appearing together at soccer events, including the World Cup co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada in 2025. Infantino received the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize from Trump in December 2025, marking him as the first recipient of the award. Infantino's candidacy for another term as Fifa president from 2027 to 2031 is under increased scrutiny following the failed plan, with Trump and Infantino's bond drawing more attention in light of the controversy.",
  "summary": "Fifa president Gianni Infantino had repeatedly tried and failed to reach US president Donald Trump by phone after a proposal to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights collapsed.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Fortune",
        "title": "Infantino’s $20 billion FIFA plan collapses and now he faces a European mutiny over the future of the World Cup",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/infantinos-20-billion-fifa-plan-collapses-and-now-he-faces-a-european",
        "published": "2026-08-02T13:28:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "FIFA must rebuild trust after scrapping World Cup investor proposal, says Boyce",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/fifa-must-rebuild-trust-after-scrapping-world-cup-investor-proposal",
        "published": "2026-08-02T17:22:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Fifa must rebuild trust after scrapping World Cup investor proposal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/fifa-must-rebuild-trust-after-scrapping-world-cup-investor-proposal-62278",
        "published": "2026-08-02T22:35:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Two women led the resistance to Infantino’s World Cup sell-off. That matters",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/two-women-led-the-resistance-to-infantinos-world-cup-sell-off-that",
        "published": "2026-08-03T04:16:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Infantino under growing pressure after FIFA scraps World Cup investor proposal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/infantino-under-growing-pressure-after-fifa-scraps-world-cup-investor",
        "published": "2026-08-03T06:41:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Uefa threatens Fifa with legal action over investment plan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/uefa-threatens-fifa-with-legal-action-over-investment-plan",
        "published": "2026-08-03T07:49:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Private Equity Wire",
        "title": "FIFA drops proposed $20bn commercial venture after opposition derails private investment plan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/fifa-drops-proposed-20bn-commercial-venture-after-opposition-derails",
        "published": "2026-08-03T08:09:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "FIFA backs off World Cup private equity pitch after global fury: 5 things to know",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/fifa-backs-off-world-cup-private-equity-pitch-after-global-fury-5",
        "published": "2026-08-03T10:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Forbes",
        "title": "FIFA’s Infantino Scrambles To Save Job After World Cup Equity Plan Backfires",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/fifas-infantino-scrambles-to-save-job-after-world-cup-equity-plan",
        "published": "2026-08-03T17:11:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}