FIFA has officially abandoned its ambitious $20 billion proposal to sell a minority stake in its commercial operations. The decision marks a significant retreat for the organization following intense pressure from the global football community and the sudden withdrawal of essential financial backing.
The project, which aimed to spin off FIFA’s lucrative television rights, sponsorship agreements, licensing, and ticketing into a separate entity, faced collapse after key players in the negotiations stepped away. Thrive Capital, led by Joshua Kushner, reportedly pulled out, while JPMorgan—which had been advising on the transaction—also ended its involvement as support for the deal evaporated.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the abandonment of the project, acknowledging that the proposal had created deep divisions within world football that ultimately outweighed any potential financial gains. Consequently, FIFA will continue to manage and sell its commercial rights through its existing internal structure.
The failed initiative met with fierce resistance from several influential confederations. UEFA had warned that its member nations would boycott FIFA competitions if private investors were permitted to take ownership of the sport’s commercial assets. This opposition quickly spread to the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, rendering the project impossible to move forward without the backing of the world’s most significant football markets.
The fallout has exposed substantial internal fractures within FIFA. Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour publicly criticized the process, alleging that senior executives were kept in the dark and characterizing the proposal as a personal project rather than a collective FIFA initiative. Furthermore, senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned from his position amid the ongoing controversy.
With the commercial gamble now dead and pressure mounting ahead of next year's presidential election, the authority of Gianni Infantino appears significantly diminished. While CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is reportedly preparing to challenge Infantino for the presidency, UEFA-touted Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser al-Khelaifi has indicated he has no intention of entering the race.
