FIFA scraps controversial deal to sell stakes in World Cup to private investors

Sports FIFA scraps controversial deal to sell stakes in World Cup to private investors July 31, 202610:08 PM ET By  Rafael Nam FIFA President Gianni Infantino poses with the World Cup trophy following the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Play-Off draw at the FIFA's Home of Football in Zurich on Nov. 20, 2025. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images FIFA on Friday abandoned a controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors after drawing vociferous opposition from European countries — and from its own ranks. Sports FIFA has a new plan to raise billions of dollars: Selling stakes in the World Cup The swift about-face marks a stunning defeat for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who had championed a plan announced on Tuesday to create a commercial venture to capitalize on its tournaments — including the World Cup and the Club World Cup. The decision came just weeks after the conclusion of its enormously lucrative men's tournament held across North America. The most controversial part of the plan was a deal to sell a minority stake to private investors including a firm run by Joshua Kushner, the brother of President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Sponsor Message "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 in a statement. "Our purpose has always been - and will always be - to unite and improve," he added. "As a result, this proposal will not proceed." European nations threatened to boycott the World Cup Infantino's plan had drawn swift opposition from the minute it was unveiled. European nations strongly opposed the plan, taking the unprecedented step of saying they would boycott the World Cup unless FIFA abandoned it entirely. UEFA, the region's soccer governing body, had said suc...