FIFA president Infantino faces backlash over secret World Cup privatisation proposal
A proposal to privatise future World Cups, allegedly developed without consulting FIFA’s council, has sparked anger among senior football officials and raised questions about its financing and governance.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is under pressure after a plan to privatise future World Cup tournaments was reported to have been drafted without informing the organisation’s council or senior advisers. Senior football sources say the proposal, which dates back to discussions around last year’s Club World Cup in the United States, was kept secret even from Infantino’s inner circle and has upset key regional bodies such as the Asian Football Confederation.
The plan is described by some officials as a “unilateral Infantino project” that bypasses normal FIFA procedures. Germany’s FIFA Council chair Bernd Neuendorf said the disclosure of the proposal through the media, rather than through council channels, was “unacceptable” and demanded clarification on who selected the financial partners and who authorised the initiative.
Reports link the project to private-equity interests, with speculation that investors connected to the Trump family may be involved. UEFA has called an emergency meeting to discuss the proposal and possible responses, including a boycott, while the English Football Association is seeking to build alliances with other federations.
In a video released by FIFA, Infantino described the proposal as an “offer” and an “opportunity” that would start a consultation process, noting that any final decision would require approval by the 211 member associations and the council. Critics point out that the consultation timeline is short—53 days—and that associations that reject the plan could receive 75 % less funding, while the voting threshold has been lowered from 75 % to a simple majority.
Stakeholders warn that introducing private investment could give financial partners influence over key aspects of the sport, such as the competition calendar, potentially disadvancing smaller nations. As a result, many senior officials are working to prevent the proposal from reaching a vote.