FIFA chief Infantino abandons World Cup sell-off plans
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has withdrawn plans to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors following significant backlash from UEFA and other football federations. UEFA hailed the decision as a victory for the sport's governance.
Why it matters
Highlights a major shift in the governance and financial structure of international football, reflecting tensions between FIFA leadership and regional bodies.
Europe's governing body, UEFA has called Gianni Infantino's decision to abandon his plans to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private equity investors a "victory for the whole game."
https://p.dw.com/p/5I6uO Gianni Infantino had asked federations to approve the measure by September 19 [FILE: June 2026] Image: Raymond Carlin III/Imagn Images/REUTERS Advertisement FIFA President Gianni Infantino has withdrawn his plans to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors after widespread condemnation from across the football world .
European football's governing body UEFA welcomed the news on Saturday, calling it a "victory for the whole game."
In a statement on Saturday, Infantino said: "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."
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