Fifa President Gianni Infantino announced on August 1, 2026, that he has withdrawn a controversial proposal to sell stakes in the organization's major competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups. The decision comes after significant opposition from member associations across several continents, who had expressed concerns about the long-term impact on the sport.

Infantino had initially offered Fifa's 211 member associations $40 million each in exchange for their support of the private investment plan. The proposal aimed to generate funds by bringing external investors into the commercial aspects of Fifa's flagship tournaments, a move intended to boost revenue and development.

However, the plan faced immediate and strong resistance. Uefa, representing Europe's 55 member associations, voted to boycott World Cups if the proposal proceeded. Concacaf, which governs football in North, Central America, and the Caribbean, also rejected the plan, with reports indicating a significant loss of faith in Infantino among its members. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) subsequently declared its solidarity with Uefa and Concacaf, further isolating the proposal.

The withdrawal of the investment plan signals a significant political setback for Infantino as he prepares to seek re-election for a fourth term as Fifa president in March. The opposition highlights deep divisions within global football governance and raises questions about Infantino's leadership and future direction for the organization.

Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino's senior adviser on global strategy and governance, resigned from his position over the matter, describing the proposal as a detrimental deal for football that would "mortgage football's future." Fifa's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, also stated that the governing body's administration had been misled about the project's details.

Despite initial assertions from Fifa on Friday that "nobody is selling football," Infantino ultimately acknowledged the need for broad support. The plan required backing from at least 106 of Fifa's 211 member associations to pass. With Uefa (55 votes), Concacaf (35 votes), and the AFC (46 votes) publicly against it, the proposal's chances of success had become highly unlikely. Combined, these confederations represent 136 member associations.

Infantino stated his intention to reconvene all stakeholders "in the spirit of shared interest in football" to move forward. Discussions are expected to continue regarding the plans of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), which were scheduled to discuss the proposal in August. The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) had also requested further clarification from Fifa regarding the proposal's specifics.

Infantino, 56, has led Fifa since February 2016. His leadership has been marked by significant reforms and ambitious commercial ventures. This particular proposal, however, proved to be a bridge too far for many of the sport's governing bodies, leading to its ultimate demise.