FIFA has scrapped its controversial proposal to bring private investors into future World Cup tournaments after the plan triggered strong opposition from football governing bodies, fans and senior officials across the sport.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed on Friday that the proposal would not move forward, saying the project had created divisions that outweighed its intended benefits.
“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,” Infantino said.
“Our purpose has always been - and will always be - to unite and improve.
“As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”
The proposal, announced earlier this week, sought to establish a separate FIFA subsidiary that would manage the commercial and operational rights of the men's and women's World Cups. Private investors were expected to acquire a stake in the new entity, with FIFA insisting that the money raised would be reinvested into football development around the world.
Instead, the plan was met with immediate criticism, with opponents warning it could hand private investors too much influence over the world's biggest football competition.
UEFA emerged as one of the strongest critics, warning that the proposal threatened the game's "soul and governance." The European governing body unanimously backed the possibility of boycotting future men's and women's World Cups if FIFA proceeded with the plan.
Other football confederations also voiced their opposition. Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation rejected the proposal, although neither supported a boycott. The Oceania Football Confederation said its executive committee would discuss the matter later this month.
Infantino said FIFA would now focus on restoring unity within the global football community.
“Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support,” he said.
Pressure on the proposal also grew from within FIFA itself. Senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest, saying he could not support the plan.
“I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup. Let me be clear: I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally. … It is a bad deal for FIFA’s Member Associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game,” Cordeiro said.
FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour also distanced himself from the proposal.
“It is the project of one person,” Lamour said.
He added: “Not only must this project not go ahead … but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.”
The developments came a day after FIFA defended the proposal, saying it respected concerns raised by stakeholders while maintaining that some reports about the plan had been inaccurate.
The Asian Football Confederation welcomed FIFA's decision to withdraw the proposal.
“The future of global football must always be shaped through proper consultation, collective dialogue and respect for the established governance structures of our game,” AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said.
“The AFC stands ready to support any initiative that strengthens the unity of the football family, contributes to the continued growth of the game globally and delivers meaningful benefits to all stakeholders.”
With the proposal now abandoned, FIFA's attention turns to its upcoming competitions, including the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland and the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil.