The FIFA backtracks on the privatization of the World Cup
Fréderic Manet · 2 août 2026 · 3 min de lecture
The FIFA has finally succumbed to pressure and abandoned its plans to privatize the World Cup. Several federations, including UEFA, boycotted FIFA-organized competitions in protest. Chelsea has been fined £10 million for secret payments, while other clubs are under scrutiny in similar cases. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had proposed selling the organization of the World Cup to private investors. This initiative sparked a wave of criticism and hostile reactions. The Asian Football Confederation joined UEFA in expressing its "deep concern" over the proposal. "The future of football must remain in our hands," declared CONCACAF, which also decided to boycott FIFA-organized competitions. UEFA accused Infantino of pursuing a "petty backroom project" and denounced his lack of transparency. "This is not an offer, it's an obligation," he retorted in defense of his idea. Despite his attempts to justify it, the pressure from federations ultimately forced him to abandon the plan. A FIFA advisor resigned in protest, stating: "I cannot stand idly by in the face of such a decision." The FIFA Director of Operations, meanwhile, called the project a "one-person plan," adding that its author risked losing his job if he persisted. Even the British Prime Minister criticized Infantino, calling him "the wrong person to lead FIFA." Faced with mounting opposition, Infantino tried to salvage the situation by giving federations an ultimatum: either they accepted his plan, or they forfeited additional revenue. However, this strategy failed to sway football bodies, which maintained their opposition. FIFA has now announced the abandonment of this initiative, marking a historic retreat for the institution. European and Asian federations played a key role in this rejection. UEFA even decided to boycott FIFA-organized competitions, including the World Cup, to make its opposition clear. This unprecedented mobilization demonstrated the unity of world football against commercial excesses. Clubs are no exception, as evidenced by the recent case involving Chelsea, which was fined £10 million for secret payments. These scandals underscore the importance of transparency in football governance.
