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FIFA president Gianni Infantino has received the backing of senior officials at football’s world governing body after a crisis meeting in Morocco, as FIFA apologised over the controversial proposal to open the World Cup to private investment.
The proposal, which was eventually withdrawn, triggered widespread criticism from football stakeholders, including European football’s governing body UEFA, and intensified calls for accountability within FIFA.
Following Wednesday’s meeting in Rabat, FIFA’s leadership acknowledged that “errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media” and admitted that the process surrounding the plan should have been handled differently.
In a statement, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom and members of the FIFA Management Board who attended the meeting said they “reaffirmed their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as the only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member Associations.”
The leadership also addressed the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which would have created a new commercial subsidiary to manage major competitions, including the World Cup and Club World Cup.
FIFA had estimated that the initiative could generate up to $4.2 billion based on a $20 billion valuation. The organisation said the funds could have provided each of its 211 member associations with a one-time payment of $20 million in early 2027, while increasing funding allocations for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.
However, the plan faced fierce opposition, with critics accusing FIFA of attempting to privatise the sport’s biggest competition without sufficient consultation.
UEFA described the proposal as a “shabby, back room, opaque deal” and said the current FIFA leadership had lost its confidence. North and Central American football body CONCACAF also called for “a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency,” criticising Infantino’s leadership and governance.
Infantino eventually withdrew the proposal on Saturday, saying: “Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve.”
FIFA confirmed the FFE project was now “off the table” and said a review would be conducted, with a report to be presented to the FIFA Council at its next scheduled meeting.
The controversy comes at a crucial time for Infantino, who had appeared set to secure a fourth and final term as FIFA president. His position had strengthened following the success of the expanded 2026 World Cup, hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
But the backlash over the investment proposal has created the biggest challenge of his presidency, with even Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney saying he no longer had confidence in Infantino’s ability to lead FIFA.
