Concacaf condemns Infantino’s World Cup stake sale plan

Concacaf has publicly rebuked FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the governing body unveiled a plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, a proposal the North American federation says was announced without consultation. The backlash underscores a widening rift over the commercial future of football’s premier tournament.

Concacaf’s statement warned, “We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process,” adding that the federation learned of the proposal only through media reports. The body stressed that, as leaders within football, they are the custodians of the game.

The federation called for robust governance and long‑term stewardship, urging FIFA to engage members before any commercial move.

UEFA responded with a furious statement, calling the plan a line “football's governing institutions should never cross.” UEFA officials announced an emergency meeting this week to organise a coordinated response, underscoring the severity of the dispute.

On Tuesday FIFA disclosed its intention to create a $20 billion subsidiary to run the World Cup and other events, offering up to 20 percent of the new entity to external investors. The venture will operate under the name FIFA Forward Enterprise and is positioned as a commercial and event‑operations hub.

FIFA will retain control of the new enterprise but intends to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling minority stakes. Money from the capital raise is earmarked for an optional programme that could provide member associations with up to $20 million in one‑off capital, rising to $24 million by the 2035‑2038 cycle, for infrastructure, coaching, national teams, competitions, grassroots football and the women’s game.

Infantino defended the proposal, saying, “This is about the democratisation of football worldwide,” and argued that every member association should have the opportunity to seek a fair share of the funding to shape its own future.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham also criticised the scheme, writing on social media that “The World Cup is not a product…once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out.” His statement referenced the involvement of US President Donald Trump in a photo with the World Cup trophy.

The controversy remains unresolved as UEFA prepares its emergency meeting and FIFA plans to present the proposal to its 211 member associations and the FIFA Council, the sole decision‑makers. Associations have until 19 September to accept the offer, leaving the future of the World Cup’s ownership in limbo.