Sports

FIFA Scraps $20B World Cup Sell-Off Plan

Did FIFA make the right call scrapping the Forward Enterprise project or did Infantino simply get caught and back down?

Published 15 hours ago

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FIFA Scraps $20B World Cup Sell-Off Plan

Story

Above: Gianni Infantino at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19. Image credit: Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

FIFA made the right call pulling the Forward Enterprise project — when a majority of member associations couldn't get behind it, pressing forward would've undermined the very unity soccer depends on. Growing the game globally, especially in countries that need it most, requires broad buy-in, not division. Scrapping this proposal is proof that FIFA's decision-making process actually works.

FIFA on X

Narrative B

Infantino didn't pull this deal out of principle — he got caught trying to hand World Cup commercial rights to private investors, including a Kushner-linked fund, and only backed down after UEFA threatened a full boycott and his own staff revolted. Calling this retreat responsible governance is spin. The real story is a FIFA president who tried to privatize soccer's crown jewel and got stopped.

Mario Nawfal on X