Gianni Infantino entered the final days of the 2026 World Cup in a position of strength. The tournament had generated approximately $15 billion in revenue, and the FIFA president claimed support from more than 200 of the organisation’s 211 member associations ahead of the 2027 presidential election. In New York he prepared to announce a major commercial initiative: the launch of FIFA Forward Enterprise and the sale of a minority stake in the new company to private investors.
Within seven days the plan had collapsed, UEFA and Concacaf had publicly declared they had lost confidence in his leadership, and serious questions were being asked about his future as FIFA president.
What Was FIFA Forward Enterprise?
FIFA Forward Enterprise was designed as a new subsidiary that would manage the commercial and operational rights to FIFA’s biggest competitions, including the World Cup and Club World Cup. Under the proposal, private investors would acquire a stake of roughly 20–21 percent. JPMorgan was involved in preparing the deal, and Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital was linked as a leading potential investor.
FIFA argued that the World Cup remained under-monetised compared with the NFL, NBA and Premier League. The capital raised, officials said, would allow a much larger development package to be distributed to member associations.
How the Stake Sale Plan Collapsed
The formal announcement never took place. Details of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal leaked in the British press early in the week. The reaction was immediate and severe.
UEFA called an emergency meeting at which every speaker opposed the plan. The European body later described the process as a “shabby, backroom deal” and stated that FIFA’s leadership had lost the confidence of European football and many other members of the football family. Concacaf followed with its own strong statement, accusing FIFA of having “stopped putting football first” and calling for a full reckoning with the current presidency.
Inside FIFA the fallout was equally damaging. Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino and former president of U.S. Soccer, resigned and publicly criticised the proposal. Chief operating officer Kevin Lamour said staff had been “deceived” and described the project as belonging to one person. Relations between Infantino and secretary-general Mattias Grafström were reported to have deteriorated after the latter was left out of the planning.
On 31 July FIFA announced that the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan would not proceed, citing divisions that were no longer in the interest of the game. The decision did not restore confidence. UEFA and Concacaf maintained their positions. Only limited support came from Qatar, Morocco and Lebanon.
Leadership Crisis and the 2027 FIFA Presidential Election
The collapse of the World Cup stake sale has left Gianni Infantino’s authority weakened at a critical moment. Nominations for the 2027 FIFA presidential election close in November. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani, already a FIFA vice-president, is now widely viewed as a potential challenger. Sources within UEFA have indicated they may support a unity candidate, possibly from outside Europe.
Infantino still retains backing in parts of Africa, South America and Asia. Removing a sitting FIFA president requires a broad coalition. Nevertheless, the speed of the revolt has changed the political atmosphere around his leadership. Even if he survives, his ability to push through further major reforms appears significantly reduced.
What Happens Next for FIFA?
The 2026 World Cup was expected to mark the high point of Infantino’s commercial strategy. Instead, the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise plan has triggered the most serious leadership crisis of his presidency. The coming months will determine whether the member associations that once appeared firmly behind him are willing to keep him in office, or whether the events of the past week mark the beginning of the end.
