FIFA has reportedly abandoned a controversial proposal championed by president Gianni Infantino to sell a minority stake in the commercial rights connected to the World Cup and other major competitions to private investors. The plan, announced this week through the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise, was designed to create a new commercial entity valued at about $20 billion, with external investors potentially acquiring up to a 20 per cent stake.
Infantino had pushed the proposal as a way of unlocking billions of dollars in fresh capital for football development around the world. FIFA was reportedly working with financial giant J.P. Morgan on the investment structure, while potential private investors were expected to participate in the venture. The move, however, quickly triggered criticism from football authorities and stakeholders who questioned the wisdom of bringing private capital into the commercial heart of the World Cup.
The backlash intensified after UEFA and other football bodies strongly opposed the proposal, with European football leaders warning against what they viewed as the excessive commercialisation of the sport. UEFA reportedly threatened a boycott, while concerns also emerged within FIFA itself, with senior figures criticising the plan’s governance and transparency. The controversy put increasing pressure on Infantino and raised questions about the future of the project.
According to a report by the New York Post, the project has now collapsed after private investors pulled out, with J.P. Morgan also reportedly withdrawing from the process. The development represents a major setback for Infantino’s ambitious commercial strategy and follows days of mounting opposition from across the football world.
