The pressure on FIFA President Gianni Infantino is mounting due to widespread criticism of a plan to privatize the World Cup, potentially attracting up to $20 billion in investments. Soccer’s governing bodies around the world have condemned this proposal.
On Friday, a senior adviser to Infantino resigned in protest. Additionally, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) expressed deep concerns about the development of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), the fund’s designation. In a statement, the AFC expressed solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF in opposing private investment in FIFA’s key competitions and decision-making processes involving FFE.
UEFA and CONCACAF had already voiced objections. CONCACAF released a statement on Thursday, criticizing the lack of due process, the imposed deadline, and the absence of review or approval from FIFA’s governance bodies. CONCACAF questioned the necessity of outside investment after the most profitable FIFA World Cup.
In a notable image, President Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino held the FIFA World Cup trophy following the 2026 final between Spain and Argentina on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Infantino’s plan involves the creation of a commercial subsidiary, the $20 billion FFE, with 20% owned by private investors. The main investor would be a New York investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, Jared Kushner’s brother.
The recent World Cup in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada was highly successful, drawing record crowds and positive feedback for the venues and cities that hosted matches. Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time at MetLife Stadium to win its second title.
FIFA reiterated its commitment to the plan, blaming media reports for disrupting the consultation process. FIFA stated it will continue consultations to enable members to express their votes based on factual information.
A crisis deepened within FIFA when Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s senior adviser, resigned in protest against the $20 billion plan, describing it as detrimental to soccer. Cordeiro, a former U.S. Soccer Federation president, disclosed he was not part of the clandestine investment plan revealed by media reports. He expressed strong opposition, stating, “I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup.”
Cordeiro, who frequently accompanied Infantino to White House meetings, called for other senior staff to speak out. “Let me be clear. I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally,” Cordeiro declared.