FIFA abandons $4.2 billion World Cup stake sale after UEFA opposition

FIFA announced it will not proceed with the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal that would have sold a minority stake in the commercial rights of the men’s World Cup and other flagship tournaments. The plan, unveiled by President Gianni Infantino, aimed to raise up to US$4.2 billion, valuing the commercial arm at about US$20 billion, and to channel additional funds to the FIFA Forward development programme.

The proposal met immediate resistance from UEFA, which called an emergency meeting, announced a boycott of FIFA events, and threatened legal action. The Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF also rejected the deal. Internal dissent grew, with senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigning and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour questioning the process. Potential anchor investor Joshua Kushner’s firm Thrive Eternal and adviser JP Morgan were named, adding to the controversy. Within 72 hours, FIFA withdrew the plan, marking a rapid reversal after widespread opposition.

The collapse of the deal underscores the tension between FIFA’s commercial ambitions and the governing bodies that protect the sport’s traditional ownership structure.