FIFA scraps plans to sell stakes in major tournaments after opposition to Infantino proposal

FIFA has dropped a controversial plan that would have involved selling off stakes in its major competitions, ending a proposal that had drawn widespread opposition to President Gianni Infantino, the BBC reported on Aug. 1, 2026. The decision means FIFA will not proceed with the proposed structure for investment tied to its flagship events, at least in the form that had been circulated publicly.

The BBC said the change came after broad pushback against the plan, framing it as part of a larger dispute over how FIFA should approach financing and commercial arrangements for upcoming World Cup tournaments and other top-tier competitions. While the proposal centered on investment mechanisms tied to FIFA’s events, FIFA’s leadership ultimately opted to withdraw rather than move forward with implementation.

Infantino’s plan, as characterized in the report, would have allowed for stakes in FIFA competitions to be sold or otherwise transferred, a move that critics argued risked shifting control and long-term rights away from FIFA’s traditional governance model. The reporting described the opposition as widespread, suggesting that more than a narrow group of stakeholders objected to the approach.

For FIFA member associations, broadcasters, and commercial partners, the retreat represents a reversal in negotiations that can affect deal timelines and contracting strategies. FIFA’s proposed path, if pursued, would have likely influenced how future revenues are structured, who participates in financial returns, and how risk is allocated across host countries and tournament organizers.

The decision also arrives amid heightened scrutiny of FIFA’s commercial governance and leadership, with stakeholders increasingly focused on transparency and accountability in how the organization handles its competitions and revenue streams. By stepping back from the stake-selling concept, FIFA is seeking to reduce the friction that had built around the investment proposal and the administration’s willingness to advance it.

It remains unclear from the report whether FIFA will pursue alternative investment arrangements that do not involve selling stakes, or whether it will reconsider the issue through new consultations with member associations. What is clear is that, for now, FIFA has ended the specific plan that triggered opposition.

FIFA’s next steps will depend on how it manages existing discussions with stakeholders and whether it issues further guidance on commercial strategy for its major tournaments. The abandonment of the stake-selling concept closes one contested chapter in the organization’s broader negotiations over tournament financing and control, while leaving open questions about what commercial model FIFA will adopt going forward.