FIFA abandoned a proposal to sell minority stakes in its major competitions to private investors on around July 31, 2026, days after the plan was first unveiled. President Gianni Infantino had put forward the scheme, which involved creating a commercial venture and then offering stakes to outside investors, according to BBC News and NPR.
European football bodies condemned the proposal, and European nations threatened a boycott. UEFA said it had lost confidence in Infantino's leadership, and senior UEFA sources warned of "non co-operation" with FIFA unless he stepped down.
FIFA secretary-general Mattias Grafström called the stake sale plan "reproachable," adding to the pressure on Infantino. The Financial Times reported that questions arose about whether Infantino could survive as FIFA president, noting he had been expected to stand for re-election unopposed. UEFA was also weighing whether to pursue legal action over the withdrawn plan, the Financial Times said.