Gianni Infantino has finally abandoned his plan to create a commercial company that would have opened part of FIFA’s competitions to private investors. It is a dramatic U-turn after opposition to the proposal became impossible to ignore.
In a statement published on Saturday, the FIFA president officially announced the withdrawal of the project, known as “FIFA Forward Enterprise.” The initiative was intended to establish a commercial structure capable of attracting private investment linked to the World Cup and other FIFA assets.
Growing Opposition Forces Infantino to Back Down
The Swiss official insisted that the plan was designed to strengthen FIFA’s member associations and provide greater support to the most vulnerable countries. However, faced with the deep divisions caused by the proposal, he ultimately decided to scrap it, acknowledging that it could no longer achieve its original purpose.
The decision nevertheless represents a major political setback. UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC had all opposed the project, criticizing its lack of transparency and consultation. Pressure intensified further following the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, one of Infantino’s main advisers, who publicly expressed his disagreement.
UEFA quickly welcomed the decision, issuing a particularly harsh statement condemning “secret plots,” questioning FIFA’s transparency and claiming that trust had been seriously damaged. Infantino has now promised to bring the various parties together in the coming weeks to restore dialogue, but his authority appears significantly weakened and the governance battle with UEFA more open than ever.
