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English FA to Withdraw Support for FIFA President Amid Fallout from Failed World Cup Investment Plan
On Friday, the English Football Association announced it would no longer support FIFA president Gianni Infantino after his proposal to commercialise the sport’s flagship tournaments collapsed. The move follows a week‑long backlash that has seen continental confederations and national associations question Infantino’s leadership.
Infantino unveiled the plan on 28 July 2026, proposing a new commercial arm—FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE)—to hold the rights to the men’s and women’s World Cups and other flagship competitions. The idea was to sell a 20 percent stake in the subsidiary, valued at US$20 billion, and raise about US$4.2 billion. The money was meant to flow back to member associations, with Infantino promising each of the 211 federations US$40 million if they backed the scheme, and an initial US$20 million payout before the September 19 deadline.
The proposal was immediately rejected by UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation. UEFA warned that it was “actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints” against Infantino and the investors, and demanded that FIFA preserve all documents related to the plan—including emails, instant messages, texts, written correspondence and meeting notes involving FIFA officials, member associations, broadcasters, sponsors and financial institutions. UEFA requested confirmation within five business days that the documents would be retained and protected from deletion.
The Football Association of Wales followed suit, publicly withdrawing its support for Infantino’s bid to remain FIFA president. The decision comes amid a broader wave of criticism that has already forced several national associations to call for Infantino’s resignation.
Despite the opposition, a handful of federations—Qatar, Lebanon, Kuwait and Sri Lanka—have publicly backed Infantino. He remains eligible to run for a fourth term at FIFA’s next Congress in March 2027, where he would need the support of at least 106 of the 211 member associations.
The fallout has also raised pressure on FIFA’s governing body. An extraordinary FIFA Council meeting can be convened if at least 19 of its 37 members request one, and the meeting must take place within two weeks. The Council’s composition includes nine UEFA representatives, seven from the Asian Football Confederation, five from Concacaf, six from the Confederation of African Football, five from CONMEBOL, three from Oceania, as well as Infantino and FIFA secretary‑general Mattias Grafström.
Infantino’s proposal was backed by an American venture‑capital firm, Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner. The company was slated to lead the investment, but the lack of continental approval doomed the venture.
The FA’s withdrawal signals a growing consensus that the commercial model proposed by Infantino is incompatible with the governance principles of the sport. UEFA’s threat of legal action and the FAW’s public statement reinforce the perception that FIFA must align its commercial ambitions with the expectations of its global membership.
FIFA has yet to issue a formal response to the FA’s announcement. The next steps will likely involve negotiations over document preservation, potential legal proceedings, and a broader strategy for the upcoming Congress. In the meantime, the football community remains split. While some national associations continue to support Infantino, others are preparing to challenge his re‑election bid. The outcome of these developments will shape international football’s governance for years to come.
The FA’s decision underscores the importance of transparent governance and the need for FIFA to reconcile its commercial goals with the values of the sport. The forthcoming Congress will be a pivotal moment for the sport’s leadership and its future direction.
Infantino unveiled the plan on 28 July 2026, proposing a new commercial arm—FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE)—to hold the rights to the men’s and women’s World Cups and other flagship competitions. The idea was to sell a 20 percent stake in the subsidiary, valued at US$20 billion, and raise about US$4.2 billion. The money was meant to flow back to member associations, with Infantino promising each of the 211 federations US$40 million if they backed the scheme, and an initial US$20 million payout before the September 19 deadline.
The proposal was immediately rejected by UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation. UEFA warned that it was “actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints” against Infantino and the investors, and demanded that FIFA preserve all documents related to the plan—including emails, instant messages, texts, written correspondence and meeting notes involving FIFA officials, member associations, broadcasters, sponsors and financial institutions. UEFA requested confirmation within five business days that the documents would be retained and protected from deletion.
The Football Association of Wales followed suit, publicly withdrawing its support for Infantino’s bid to remain FIFA president. The decision comes amid a broader wave of criticism that has already forced several national associations to call for Infantino’s resignation.
Despite the opposition, a handful of federations—Qatar, Lebanon, Kuwait and Sri Lanka—have publicly backed Infantino. He remains eligible to run for a fourth term at FIFA’s next Congress in March 2027, where he would need the support of at least 106 of the 211 member associations.
The fallout has also raised pressure on FIFA’s governing body. An extraordinary FIFA Council meeting can be convened if at least 19 of its 37 members request one, and the meeting must take place within two weeks. The Council’s composition includes nine UEFA representatives, seven from the Asian Football Confederation, five from Concacaf, six from the Confederation of African Football, five from CONMEBOL, three from Oceania, as well as Infantino and FIFA secretary‑general Mattias Grafström.
Infantino’s proposal was backed by an American venture‑capital firm, Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner. The company was slated to lead the investment, but the lack of continental approval doomed the venture.
The FA’s withdrawal signals a growing consensus that the commercial model proposed by Infantino is incompatible with the governance principles of the sport. UEFA’s threat of legal action and the FAW’s public statement reinforce the perception that FIFA must align its commercial ambitions with the expectations of its global membership.
FIFA has yet to issue a formal response to the FA’s announcement. The next steps will likely involve negotiations over document preservation, potential legal proceedings, and a broader strategy for the upcoming Congress. In the meantime, the football community remains split. While some national associations continue to support Infantino, others are preparing to challenge his re‑election bid. The outcome of these developments will shape international football’s governance for years to come.
The FA’s decision underscores the importance of transparent governance and the need for FIFA to reconcile its commercial goals with the values of the sport. The forthcoming Congress will be a pivotal moment for the sport’s leadership and its future direction.
