FIFA scraps World Cup stake sale as backlash puts Infantino at risk
What's next: UEFA, Concacaf and the AFC have widened the revolt, and Infantino now faces fresh scrutiny before his 2027 re-election bid.
FIFA withdrew plans to sell stakes in the World Cup after a fierce backlash from soccer confederations and growing pressure on President Gianni Infantino. UEFA had threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, while Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation publicly opposed the proposal and criticized FIFA's decision-making. The retreat has intensified questions about Infantino's grip on world soccer less than two weeks after the World Cup final on July 19. Carlos Cordeiro, a senior Infantino adviser, resigned immediately, calling the proposal "a bad deal for football." Bloomberg reported critics also questioned why FIFA needed outside money given record revenue and multibillion-dollar reserves.