FIFA drops controversial $20B World Cup investment plan: What's next for Infantino?

FIFA has decided to scrap $20 billion worth of World Cup investment plans after receiving the global backlash over the controversial proposal.

As per the proposal, the World football’s governing body was to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling 20 percent stakes to private investors and establishing a new unit named FIFA Forward Enterprise.

Taking to X, the body announced, “Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.”

“Our purpose has always been - and will always be - to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”

The governing body also emphasized on bringing all interested parties back together in the coming days or weeks in the spirit of shared interest in the game.

The announcement comes after the controversial “sell the World Cup” drew global outrage from member football associations across the world. For instance, UEFA voted on Thursday to boycott FIFA competitions, calling the plan “irresponsible and indefensible.” It also accused FIFA of putting the sport’s soul up for sale.

On Friday, the controversy surrounding the proposal also prompted a shocking resignation from president Infantino’s senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro with immediate effect who called the plan “a bad deal for football.”

What’s next for FIFA president Infantino?

The recent controversial World Cup investment plan has put the position of Infantino in jeopardy.

Gianni Infantino originally became FIFA president in 2016 by defeating Sheikh Salman al-Khalifa. The next presidential election process is set for FIFA's 77th Congress in Morocco, with a candidate nomination deadline of November 18.

Infantino is also due to stand for re-election for a final term through 2031 and he was earlier expected to gain the unopposed backing after the successful completion of 2026 World Cup.

But the recent backlash has raised questions about the shift in support for Infantino’s position.

Infantino is due to stand for re-election for a final (fourth) term through 2031, and was expected to be unopposed following the overall success of the recent World Cup, which was co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.

The fallout from FIFA’s proposal, however, has resulted in questions, albeit not fully overt, about Infantino’s role.