FIFA Withdraws World Cup Commercial Stake Sale Proposal After Criticism
FIFA has dropped its proposal to sell a stake in its commercial business after strong opposition from European football officials who raised concerns over the future governance of major tournaments.
FIFA has decided not to proceed with its proposal to sell a stake in the commercial unit responsible for managing the FIFA World Cup and other major international tournaments. The move comes after widespread criticism from football governing bodies, particularly UEFA, which strongly opposed the idea.
The proposal aimed to sell around 20 percent of FIFA’s commercial operations to external investors in an effort to raise approximately 4.2 billion dollars. FIFA had reportedly valued its commercial business at nearly 20 billion dollars as part of the plan to strengthen investment and expand the global reach of the sport.
However, the proposal was met with sharp criticism from UEFA and several football stakeholders. Opponents argued that allowing outside investors to acquire a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup could undermine the independence and long term interests of the sport. They warned that football’s most prestigious competitions should remain under the full control of the game’s governing bodies.
Following the backlash, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the governing body would not move forward with the proposal. He said the decision was made after carefully reviewing feedback from stakeholders across the football community.
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Infantino explained that the original intention was to generate additional resources that could be used to expand football development worldwide and increase opportunities for member associations. He emphasized that the proposal was never intended to compromise the integrity or ownership of the game.
He added that FIFA respects the views expressed by its partners and remains committed to ensuring that football continues to grow with the participation and support of every member nation. The governing body will now focus on other strategies to strengthen the sport without pursuing the commercial stake sale.
