FIFA drops controversial plan to sell World Cup commercial stake

World football governing body FIFA has abandoned its controversial proposal to sell a minority stake in its World Cup commercial rights to external investors.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed the decision, explaining that the proposal had generated excessive division among stakeholders. He noted that "division is not in the interest of the original goal," prompting the organization to withdraw the initiative. The proposed deal aimed to leverage private capital for commercial expansion, but it met resistance within football governance circles over concerns regarding external influence and commercial control.

Sources: NRC