PARIS, France (AFP) — FIFA abandoned its controversial plan to allow private investment in the commercial operations of the World Cup on Friday after fierce opposition from football officials around the world.

“Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

“As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”

The decision came after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) joined UEFA and Concacaf in condemning the proposal and senior FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest.

Cordeiro, a former president of the US Soccer Federation, said he could not support the proposal.

“As a senior advisor to the FIFA president, a former banker, and a lifelong football fan, I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” he wrote.

“Let me be clear: I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally.

“It is a bad deal for FIFA’s member associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game.”

Before FIFA’s announcement, the AFC warned it was alarmed that the controversy had escalated to the point where “a World Cup boycott has entered public discourse”.

“The AFC stands in solidarity with UEFA and Concacaf in expressing serious concerns over FIFA’s proposal,” the Kuala Lumpur-based confederation said.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrives for the World Cup final match between Spain and Argentina at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New York, on Sunday, July 19, 2026. AFP

“The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a FIFA World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game.”

South American governing body CONMEBOL also sought further details from FIFA, saying its priority would “always be football”.

The proposal, unveiled earlier this week, would have created FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a commercial subsidiary to run competitions including the World Cup and Club World Cup.

FIFA said the initiative could have raised up to US$4.2 billion based on a valuation of US$20 billion. Member associations would have received a one-off payment of US$20 million in early 2027, while funding for the 2027-30 cycle would have increased from US$8 million to US$20 million. Private investors would have been allowed to acquire minority stakes in the company.

The proposal drew widespread criticism.

UEFA warned its national associations would boycott FIFA competitions if the plan went ahead, insisting “The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product… No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.”

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham called Infantino “the wrong man to lead” FIFA and described the proposal as “an outrageous suggestion”.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said football’s future “cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return”.

The European Union praised UEFA for “defending the integrity of the game”, while Chelsea coach Xabi Alonso also backed the European body’s stance during the club’s pre-season tour of Sydney.

On a lighter note, a beer brand that sponsors UEFA posted an advert saying: “Time for a hydration break, Gianni? Probably,” in a reference to the cooling breaks introduced during World Cup matches.

FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland (AFP)