FIFA has abandoned a $20 billion [1] plan to sell a minority stake in a new commercial subsidiary for the World Cup.
The decision follows intense opposition from the global soccer community, specifically European associations and UEFA. The move represents a significant retreat for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who sought to restructure how the tournament generates revenue.
The proposal, first announced in 2026, aimed to create a commercial subsidiary to manage World Cup operations. Under the plan, FIFA intended to sell a minority stake in this entity to private equity investors. Sources vary on the exact percentage of the stake, with some reports citing 20% [3] and others indicating 21% [5].
This investment was expected to bring an immediate cash infusion of $4.2 billion [5] to the organization. The timing of the proposal coincided with the 2026 World Cup in North America, which has been described as the most lucrative World Cup in history [2].
Opponents of the plan raised concerns regarding governance, and the over-commercialization of the sport. Many feared that allowing private equity firms into the fold would result in a loss of control over the tournament's commercial rights. The clash highlighted a growing tension between FIFA's leadership and the regional governing bodies over the direction of the global game.
FIFA officially scrapped the investment plan in a statement released on a Friday. The abandonment of the project comes weeks after the conclusion of the 2026 event in North America, ending a period of significant friction between the governing body and the European football community.
“FIFA has abandoned a $20 billion plan to sell a minority stake in a new commercial subsidiary for the World Cup.”
The collapse of this proposal underscores the limited appetite among major football federations for private equity influence over the World Cup. By attempting to monetize a minority stake, FIFA sought a massive liquidity event, but the resulting backlash suggests that governance and traditional control are currently valued more than immediate capital infusions. This failure may limit FIFA's future attempts to introduce external private investment into the core commercial structure of the tournament.
