Infantino apologises over World Cup stake plan, but Europe still wants him out
File photo: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Gianni Infantino apologised to the FIFA Council on 15 October 2026 over the abandoned World Cup stake sale; European FA heads still want him to go.
What Happened
FIFA president Gianni Infantino apologised to the FIFA Council on Thursday, 15 October 2026, for what he called "mistakes in relation to the communication and consultation process" over his abandoned plan to sell a stake in FIFA's commercial business, including the World Cup, to private investors. The apology did not satisfy European football leaders. England's Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt said after the meeting: "We didn't get answers to anything that we had specifically requested." European football association heads said Infantino was not fit to lead FIFA and still want him to step down, and they expect a challenger to stand against him in the FIFA presidential election next March.
Key Facts
- Infantino apologised at a FIFA Council meeting on 15 October 2026 for failures in communication and consultation over the World Cup investment plan.
- The plan, announced in July 2026, would have created a subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprises, and sold up to 20 per cent of it to private investors.
- Reports valued the subsidiary at about $20 billion, with up to $4.2 billion to be raised; the investment was to be led by Thrive Capital, the firm of Joshua Kushner.
- After a backlash, including a UEFA vote to boycott FIFA events, Infantino dropped the plan at the end of July.
- European FA heads said the apology was not enough and that their questions went unanswered.
- UEFA wants all documents on the plan released, believing the stake was being sold too cheaply, according to reports.
- The next FIFA presidential election is in March 2027; European leaders expect a challenger, though UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and other confederation heads have ruled themselves out.
Why It Matters
FIFA runs the World Cup, the most valuable event in global sport, and its president has wide influence over how that money is earned and shared among 211 member associations. The investment plan would have, for the first time, given private investors a stake in FIFA's commercial business. Critics, led by UEFA, argued that the World Cup is not "an investment product" and objected to how the plan was developed with little consultation. They also raised concerns because the lead investor's brother, Jared Kushner, is the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
Although the plan was dropped in July, the row has turned into a wider fight over how Infantino runs FIFA. European FAs say they came to Thursday's meeting with dozens of questions on other matters too, and left without answers. With an election only five months away, the question is whether that anger can be turned into a real challenge at the ballot box.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | FIFA proposes selling up to 20% of a new commercial subsidiary |
| Late July 2026 | After backlash, Infantino says the proposal will not proceed |
| 15 October 2026 | Infantino apologises to FIFA Council; European FAs unsatisfied |
| March 2027 | FIFA presidential election |
Impact
Short-term: European FAs are likely to keep pressing for the release of documents on the plan and for answers on other governance questions. FIFA's internal divisions will remain in the spotlight in the months before the election.
Long-term: If a credible candidate emerges, the March 2027 vote could become a genuine contest. Whatever the result, the episode is likely to make any future plan to bring private money into FIFA much harder to push through.
Who is affected: FIFA's 211 member associations; UEFA and other confederations; players, clubs and fans who depend on World Cup revenue; and investors interested in sports assets.
Key Takeaway
Infantino's 15 October 2026 apology over the abandoned World Cup stake sale failed to calm European football leaders, who still want him out ahead of FIFA's March 2027 election.
Questions and Answers
Why did Gianni Infantino apologise?
He apologised to the FIFA Council on 15 October 2026 for "mistakes in relation to the communication and consultation process" around a plan to sell up to 20 per cent of a new FIFA commercial subsidiary to private investors.
What was FIFA's World Cup investment plan?
Announced in July 2026, it would have put FIFA's commercial business into a subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprises, and sold up to 20 per cent to investors led by Thrive Capital, valuing it at about $20 billion. Infantino dropped it after a backlash.
What did the FA's Debbie Hewitt say?
She said European FAs did not get answers to anything they had specifically requested. European FA heads said Infantino was not fit to lead FIFA.
When is the next FIFA presidential election?
It is due in March 2027. European leaders expect a challenger to stand, although UEFA's Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
