FIFA President Gianni Infantino has withdrawn plans to sell a $20 billion stake in the World Cup to private equity investors after facing intense backlash from global football confederations and internal staff. In a statement released early Saturday, Infantino said the initiative had created divisions that were no longer in the best interest of the sport. “Our purpose has always been — and will always be, to unite and improve,” he said.

Internal and International Pushback

The proposal, which had included private investors such as the Kushner family, faced growing resistance since its announcement on Tuesday. UEFA, the governing body for European football, led the charge against the plan, with all 55 of its member nations agreeing to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions if the plan proceeded. “Some things are simply too important to sell,” UEFA said in a statement. “The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will.”

Infantino’s senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs banker and member of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, resigned on Friday and urged other senior FIFA staff to speak out against the plan. “I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” Cordeiro said in a statement.

Internal Dissent and Timeline

Hours after Cordeiro’s resignation, FIFA’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, issued a statement to The Associated Press, revealing that staff had been kept in the dark about the planning of the sale over recent months. Lamour said the lack of openness had led to deception and that the project must not continue. “It is the project of one person,” Lamour wrote.

According to reports, FIFA had set a deadline of September 19 for approval of the investor deal and had promised a special payment in return. However, the entire initiative has now been scrapped. Infantino said he intends to bring all interested parties back together in the coming weeks “in the spirit of a shared interest in our sport.”

Infantino’s Vision and Future Steps

Infantino emphasized that his goal remains to support the development of soccer in countries that need it most. “Europe’s position is clear,” he said. “The FIFA World Cup belongs to football.” Despite the backlash, Infantino hinted at a new approach to funding, stating that FIFA’s focus will remain on uniting the global football community rather than privatizing its most iconic event.

North America’s CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation also opposed the plan, adding to the pressure that ultimately led to its cancellation. The decision marks a significant shift in Infantino’s strategy and reflects the deep divisions within the global football community over how the sport should be funded and governed.