Friday Sep 18, 2026
Friday Sep 18, 2026
Monday, 3 August 2026 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
FIFA President Gianni Infantino
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has withdrawn plans to sell minority stakes in the FIFA World Cup and other competitions to private investors after widespread opposition from football governing bodies, triggering renewed scrutiny of FIFA’s governance and leadership.
The proposal, unveiled earlier last week, prompted criticism from continental confederations and national football associations, many of which argued that commercial decisions affecting the sport’s flagship competitions should be subject to broader consultation and established governance processes.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) welcomed the withdrawal of the proposal but said the episode had damaged confidence in FIFA’s leadership.
“The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family,” UEFA said, adding that it would work with stakeholders on alternative approaches to distributing resources through FIFA’s existing Forward program.
UEFA described the withdrawal as “a victory for the whole game” but said rebuilding trust in FIFA remained an outstanding challenge.
Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said the future of world football should be determined through “proper consultation, collective dialogue and respect for the established governance structures of our game.”
He said the AFC would support initiatives that strengthen unity across world football and deliver benefits to stakeholders.
England’s Football Association said it fully supported UEFA’s position, stating that the FIFA World Cup “belongs to football and always will.”
The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) said the withdrawal did not resolve concerns over the process, adding that it no longer had confidence in Mr. Infantino’s leadership because of what it described as a fundamental breach of trust.
Sweden’s Football Association welcomed FIFA’s reversal but said concerns over transparency and governance remained, while the Royal Belgian Football Association reaffirmed its support for an independent and sustainable governance model for international football.
Football Australia Chairman Anter Isaac said innovation and investment remained important for the sport’s development, but stressed that integrity, independence, transparency, meaningful consultation and due process should remain fundamental principles underpinning football’s governance.
