\n \u201cAs a result, this proposal will not proceed.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n FIFA and Infantino had announced plans Tuesday to set up a separate subsidiary<\/a> \u2013 involving private equity investment \u2013 that would control the commercial and operational rights to one of the globe\u2019s biggest sporting events.\n <\/p>\n \n The proposal had since come under intense scrutiny and criticism from many around the world, with UEFA saying the \u201csoul and governance\u201d of the game are under threat. FIFA, though, said that the money generated will be reinvested back into the sport.\n <\/p>\n \n Infantino said it is now his goal to reunite the world of football following this debacle.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cMoving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support,\u201d the 56-year-old concluded.\n <\/p>\n \n Infantino had found himself increasingly isolated as pressure and opposition built up against world soccer\u2019s governing body\u2019s plan to inject private money into its competitions.\n <\/p>\n \n European soccer\u2019s governing body UEFA threatened Thursday to boycott future men\u2019s and women\u2019s World Cups in reaction to the proposal. North and Central America and Caribbean governing body CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) later came out with statements rejecting FIFA\u2019s proposal, but stopping short of a boycott. A spokesperson for the Oceania Football Confederation said the FIFA proposal would be addressed by the entity\u2019s executive committee in August.\n <\/p>\n \n More pressure built up earlier Friday as Infantino\u2019s senior advisor, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned from his position in protest at the proposal, saying: \u201cI cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup. Let me be clear: I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally. \u2026 It is a bad deal for FIFA\u2019s Member Associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Kevin Lamour, FIFA\u2019s chief operating officer, also spoke out against Infantino.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cIt is the project of one person,\u201d Lamour said in a statement to The Associated Press on Friday.\n <\/p>\n \n He added: \u201cNot only must this project not go ahead \u2026 but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Lamour also included this: \u201cAnd if that means I lose my job, then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision. At least I\u2019ll sleep well tonight.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Friday\u2019s developments came after FIFA had issued a response<\/a> Thursday night to the backlash by not backing down, seeking to \u201creaffirm\u201d its plan on moving forward with the consultation process.\n <\/p>\n \n Defending its FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), the sport\u2019s global governing body said it \u201cacknowledges and respects feedback and concern aired in public,\u201d and placed blame for the furor on \u201cerroneous\u201d reporting in the media.\n <\/p>\n![\"Opposition](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-07-31t035932z-1978555897-rc290ia8ytfk-rtrmadp-3-soccer-fifa-stakea.JPG\")
<\/p>\n