FIFA World Cup privatization controversy

In August 2026, FIFA President Gianni Infantino promoted a plan to create a commercial entity that would allow private investors to purchase shares of the World Cup and other tournaments. The proposal triggered internal dissent, leading senior FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro to resign and officials such as Kevin Lamour to denounce the scheme as a personal project. Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s director of football development, faced media criticism for remaining silent, with suggestions that he and Infantino’s inner circle had prior knowledge of the plan.

Following the outcry, UEFA announced an outright boycott of all FIFA competitions. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin called the privatization proposal “irresponsible and indefensible,” insisting that the World Cup must remain a historic legacy rather than a commercial asset. The boycott will stay in effect until FIFA withdraws the plan and provides guarantees against private investor involvement.