Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Infantino Pledges FIFA Dialogue After World Cup Sell-Off Uproar
Gianni Infantino, who leads FIFA, said the organization needs to listen more carefully to football officials.
His comments followed anger about a large business plan that FIFA later dropped.
The plan could have raised $4.2 billion by selling part of FIFA’s commercial rights.
Some football leaders said the plan was developed without enough consultation.
Infantino now supports an independent review of how FIFA makes decisions.
FIFA’s council will discuss consulting its 211 member associations and six continental groups.
FIFA has at least $5 billion in cash reserves after a successful World Cup in North America.
Infantino is also seeking support ahead of a FIFA presidential election next March.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino pledged a more open culture of dialogue after backlash over a dropped $4.2 billion commercial plan.
The FIFA Council is expected to consider an independent review of FIFA’s governance and decision-making processes on October 15.
The review would involve consultation with FIFA’s 211 member federations and six continental confederations.
Opponents criticized the proposed sale of at least 20% of FIFA’s commercial rights and said FIFA could fund dividends from its reserves.
Infantino faces an election challenge before FIFA members vote on March 18 in Morocco.
- Who
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s council, member federations and continental confederations.
- What
- Infantino pledged greater dialogue and proposed an independent review after opposition to a dropped $4.2 billion commercial-rights plan.
- When
- The pledge was made Thursday; the FIFA Council is due to discuss the process on October 15, ahead of a March 18 election.
- Where
- The pledge was issued from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; the council meeting is scheduled for Zurich and the election for Morocco.
- Why
- The initiative follows a major dispute over FIFA’s proposed commercial spinoff and concerns that football bodies were not sufficiently consulted.
Infantino and Reform Advocates
Plan Critics
Decision-making
Infantino and Reform Advocates
Infantino says FIFA should establish a culture of dialogue, listen to football officials and conduct an independent review of its decision-making.
Plan Critics
Critics argue that major commercial proposals have been advanced without adequately consulting continental bodies and national federations.
Commercial financing
Infantino and Reform Advocates
The proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise would have offered national federations $20 million each in connection with the commercial spinoff.
Plan Critics
UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation argued that FIFA could instead distribute a $10 million dividend to each federation from its existing reserves.
- Proposed commercial plan
- A now-dropped plan valued at $4.2 billion would have created a commercial spinoff and sold at least 20% of FIFA’s commercial rights.
- Proposed investor group
- The plan was reportedly anchored by investors fronted by Josh Kushner.
- FIFA membership
- FIFA has 211 national member federations and six continental confederations.
- Cash reserves
- FIFA has at least $5 billion in cash reserves after a financially successful men’s World Cup in North America.
- Council meeting
- The 37-member FIFA Council is scheduled to consider consultation and governance measures on October 15.
- Election
- FIFA members are scheduled to vote for president on March 18 in Morocco.