Uefa has declared it has lost confidence in Fifa president Gianni Infantino's leadership following the collapse of a controversial investment plan proposed by Fifa. On Saturday, August 1st, 2026, Infantino announced that Fifa would no longer proceed with the plan to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors.

The investment plan involved creating a new subsidiary, Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would have invited third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments. Fifa had indicated that the investor group would be led by Thrive Eternal, had the plan been approved. The World Cup was described in the proposal as the "most widely viewed" sporting event, while Fifa itself was characterized as "under-monetised."

Uefa, which governs European football, had earlier threatened to boycott World Cups if the plan went ahead, a stance supported by other football governing bodies. Following the withdrawal, Uefa described the decision as "a victory for the whole game."

Uefa also accused Infantino of failing to fulfill promises made during his 2016 presidential campaign, notably regarding transparency. Quoting Infantino, they recalled his statement: "Of course we have to be transparent." However, Uefa criticized the proposed deal as "shabby, back room, opaque," asserting that it was anything but transparent.

The controversy surrounding the investment plan has intensified scrutiny on Infantino as he seeks re-election for a fourth term as Fifa president at the Fifa Congress scheduled for March 2027.

Sources