Infantino faces renewed scrutiny after FIFA abandons World Cup investment plan

12:00

By: Azzat Manal

Infantino faces renewed scrutiny after FIFA abandons World Cup investment plan

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has faced renewed criticism from senior officials within football’s global governing body after a meeting in Zurich failed to resolve concerns surrounding his abandoned proposal to open major competitions, including the World Cup, to private investment. Although Infantino apologised for the controversy, several council members said their questions remained unanswered.

The discussions took place during a closed-door meeting of the FIFA Council, where the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative was a central issue. Bernd Neuendorf, president of the German Football Association and a member of the council, said the explanations provided during the meeting were not satisfactory. His comments reflected continuing concerns about how the initiative had been developed and communicated to FIFA’s leadership.

Infantino announced the proposal in late July, seeking to attract private investors to FIFA’s premium competitions. The idea quickly triggered opposition from several major football organisations, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF. Critics raised concerns about the implications of the plan for FIFA’s governance and the management of its most valuable commercial properties. Following widespread resistance, the initiative was ultimately abandoned.

Debbie Hewitt, chair of the English Football Association and a FIFA vice-president, confirmed that Infantino apologised at the start of the council meeting. However, she said members had been unable to obtain the information they had specifically requested, including documentation related to FFE. Hewitt indicated that the president’s apology had not changed her assessment of the situation, although he reportedly promised to provide the outstanding material.

The controversy comes at a sensitive time for Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016 and is seeking another term in the election scheduled for March. His leadership has faced criticism from some European football officials over several decisions, including his relationship with US President Donald Trump and the creation of FIFA’s Peace Prize, which was awarded to Trump during the draw for the 2026 World Cup. These issues have contributed to tensions with parts of the European football community, with some national associations withdrawing their support.

Attention is also turning to FIFA’s proposed development funding for the next four years. The organisation was expected to present a plan for a fund worth approximately $6.35 billion, intended to support its 211 member associations and regional confederations. The proposed financing would draw partly on FIFA’s reserves following the anticipated commercial success of the 2026 World Cup. Under the plan, each member association could receive $25 million.

The development fund could become an important element of Infantino’s campaign to secure another term, particularly as financial support for national associations remains central to FIFA’s global development strategy. Nevertheless, the unresolved questions surrounding FFE have highlighted the importance of transparency and consultation in decisions affecting the organisation’s finances and competitions. Whether the promised documentation and further explanations will ease the concerns of council members remains to be seen.