By Dorcas Francis Koji
FIFA has scrapped its controversial proposal to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup and other major competitions to private investors following strong opposition from football stakeholders and threats of a boycott from some continental football bodies.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the decision in a statement shared on his Instagram page on Saturday, saying the governing body would no longer move forward with the initiative after consultations with key stakeholders.
According to Infantino, the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise project was designed to strengthen support for FIFA member associations and expand investment in football development, particularly in countries where additional resources are needed.
“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,” Infantino said.
He explained that the proposal was always expected to go through consultations with FIFA member associations, the FIFA Council, confederations and other football 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,” he added.
“Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”
Infantino said FIFA would continue engaging stakeholders in the coming weeks to explore ways of growing the game and increasing support for football development globally.
The decision follows significant opposition from the Union of European Football Associations, which had warned that its member associations could boycott the FIFA World Cup and other FIFA competitions if the proposal was approved.
The Asian Football Confederation and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football also expressed concerns over the plan and supported UEFA’s position.
FIFA had previously defended the initiative, insisting that the proposal was not about selling football but about creating a new commercial structure that could generate additional revenue for member associations.
Former Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick had backed the proposal, urging critics to assess the plan based on its potential benefits rather than rejecting it outright.
Pinnick, who serves as deputy chairperson of FIFA’s Men’s National Teams Competitions Committee, argued that the initiative could increase financial support for national football associations, with each association potentially receiving up to $20 million in addition to existing FIFA Forward Programme funding.
However, concerns over private investment in FIFA’s commercial rights and its possible impact on the governance and future direction of global football led to growing resistance, forcing FIFA to abandon the proposal.
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