Gianni Infantino apologizes for World Cup sell-off plan ahead of FIFA elections

 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has issued a formal apology for his proposed World Cup sell-off plan during a three-hour FIFA Council meeting in Zurich on Thursday, amid mounting pressure from European football administrators demanding his resignation.

Infantino expressed regret for failing to consult council members prior to advancing the initiative, which sought to sell a 20 per cent commercial stake in future FIFA tournaments to private equity investors. However, the gesture failed to satisfy European football leadership. Football Association (FA) Chair Debbie Hewitt reiterated that the apology was insufficient, arguing that critical questions regarding transparency and governance remain unanswered.

UEFA leaders have demanded the complete release of all documentation related to the commercial proposal, alleging that the rights were set to be transferred at a significantly discounted valuation.



Simultaneously, the FIFA Peace Prize awarded exclusively to U.S. President Donald Trump in December 2025 is slated for review and likely cancellation by FIFA’s Football Social Responsibility Committee.
 


The council also examined procedural concerns regarding the decision to suspend a one-match ban for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun during the World Cup. FIFA’s Legal Committee will review disciplinary protocols, with findings on both the disciplinary framework and the Peace Prize scheduled for presentation at the next council meeting in December 2026.
 


Additionally, FIFA outlined plans through its Surplus Solidarity Programme to increase planned development funding for the 2027–2030 cycle to $6.35 billion, providing approximately $25 million to each member association. The financial framework will undergo formal evaluation at the December session.

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