UEFA Welcomes FIFA’s Decision to Drop World Cup Privatization Plan, Says Trust Must Now Be Rebuilt

UEFA has welcomed FIFA’s decision to abandon its controversial plan to sell a stake in its competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, to private investors, describing the move as a victory for football. However, Europe’s governing body says the withdrawal is only the beginning, warning that trust in FIFA’s leadership must now be rebuilt.

In a strongly worded statement released on Saturday, UEFA praised football associations, leagues, clubs, players, supporters and governments that opposed the proposal, arguing that their united stance helped convince FIFA to step back.

“This is a victory for the whole game,” UEFA said. “But it must not be the end of the story.”

The proposal, which would have seen FIFA create a new entity known as FIFA Forward Enterprise and sell interests in major tournaments such as the World Cup to private investors, sparked widespread criticism over transparency, governance and the commercialization of football’s biggest competition.

Earlier this week, UEFA accused FIFA of attempting to push the plan through with little consultation and an unusually short deadline for member associations to respond. It argued that the World Cup is a global sporting institution that should never become a financial asset for private investors.

The backlash quickly spread beyond Europe. CONCACAF, representing 41 football associations across North America, Central America and the Caribbean, unanimously rejected the proposal after holding an emergency meeting, raising concerns over the lack of due process and questioning why FIFA would seek private investment despite having record financial reserves.

Following the growing opposition, FIFA withdrew the proposal.

UEFA has now called for a comprehensive review into how the plan reached member associations in the first place, saying no option should be ruled out when examining FIFA’s governance.

“The proposal has gone,” UEFA said. “The task of rebuilding trust in FIFA has only just begun.”

The organization also took direct aim at FIFA President Gianni Infantino, recalling the promises he made when first seeking election in 2016. At the time, Infantino pledged greater transparency and assured member associations that FIFA’s money belonged to them and should be used solely for the development of football.

According to UEFA, the now-abandoned investment proposal fell far short of those commitments.

“The shabby, back-room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through was anything but transparent,” the statement said.

UEFA also argued there was no financial justification for selling part of the World Cup, noting that FIFA currently holds reserves of more than $5 billion. Instead, it urged the governing body to use those funds to expand the existing FIFA Forward programme, which supports football development across its 211 member associations.

The European governing body said it will begin working with its member associations and other football confederations in the coming weeks to develop alternative proposals aimed at increasing funding for grassroots football without sacrificing ownership of the sport’s premier competitions.

The dispute marks one of the most significant public disagreements between UEFA and FIFA in recent years and has reignited debate over governance, transparency and the future direction of world football. While FIFA has now abandoned the proposal, UEFA insists the conversation is far from over, arguing that restoring confidence in football’s global leadership should now become the game’s top priority.