Sports
Infantino’s grip on FIFA weakens amid failed investor plan fiasco
Gianni Infantino spent much of the past decade projecting complete control over world football, expanding FIFA competitions, growing revenues and facing down critics with little apparent political cost.
But just weeks after overseeing the successful conclusion of the first 48-team World Cup, the FIFA president finds himself confronting the most serious threat to his leadership since taking office in 2016.
What was intended to be a landmark financial initiative instead became a political disaster.
Infantino’s proposal to bring private equity investment into FIFA’s commercial operations collapsed within days after fierce resistance from confederations, national federations and senior figures inside FIFA itself.
Although the governing body formally abandoned the project, the fallout has continued to intensify, raising questions about whether the 56-year-old can recover enough support to secure another presidential term.
Vision unravels
The proposal, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), sought to separate the commercial and event management operations of FIFA’s biggest tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and Club World Cups, into a new commercial company valued at roughly $20 billion.
FIFA would have retained majority ownership while selling a minority stake of about 20% to 21% to private investors, raising an estimated $4.2 billion.
Infantino promoted the project as a way to dramatically increase football development funding. FIFA planned to distribute more than $10 billion to its 211 member associations during the next four-year cycle.
Associations supporting the proposal would have received a one-time payment of $20 million in early 2027, while regular development funding would increase from approximately $8 million to $20 million per cycle.
JPMorgan served as financial adviser, while the proposed lead investor was Thrive Eternal, an investment vehicle linked to Thrive Capital, the firm founded by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.
FIFA presented the proposal as a voluntary consultation designed to accelerate football development, particularly in emerging nations.
Critics, however, argued that the plan had been developed behind closed doors with minimal consultation before being unveiled alongside generous financial incentives that many viewed as an attempt to buy support.
Immediate opposition
Resistance emerged with unusual speed and unity.
UEFA led the opposition, declaring that the World Cup was “not FIFA’s to sell” and threatening to boycott FIFA competitions unless the governing body permanently ruled out private ownership of its flagship tournaments.
CONCACAF, despite having just co-hosted the expanded World Cup, also rejected the proposal. The Asian Football Confederation joined the opposition, while CONMEBOL demanded further explanations instead of endorsing the plan.
The backlash extended well beyond FIFA’s member associations.
Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, former U.S. football president and former Goldman Sachs executive, resigned in protest, calling the proposal “a bad deal for FIFA’s Member Associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game.”
FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour also publicly criticized the initiative, saying staff members had been kept in the dark during months of planning and describing it as “the project of one person.”
The public criticism from senior insiders proved especially damaging because it suggested the opposition was not limited to FIFA’s traditional critics.
Political connections fuel scrutiny
Much of the controversy centered not only on the proposal itself but also on its broader implications.
Critics questioned why FIFA’s most valuable commercial assets should be opened to private investors, while others raised concerns about governance, transparency, investor oversight and the long-term influence outside investors could exert over world football.
The involvement of Joshua Kushner’s investment firm intensified political scrutiny because of the Kushner family’s ties to Trump.
Infantino’s close relationship with the U.S. president had already attracted criticism during the World Cup. His decision to award Trump FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize and the controversy surrounding the suspension of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban had already prompted ethics complaints and concerns among several federations.
Marketing strategist Terrence Burns, who advised successful World Cup host bids, said the issue extended beyond the legitimacy of the investment.
“Josh Kushner’s firm has a legitimate track record,” Burns said.
“But the association was always going to be read politically.”
He added that sponsorship and investment decisions are judged not only by the source of the money but by what that partnership represents publicly.
Swift retreat
As pressure mounted, FIFA abandoned the project less than a week after it became public.
Infantino acknowledged the proposal had “created divisions” that were no longer in football’s best interests and confirmed the initiative would not move forward.
He insisted FIFA remained committed to uniting the global game and pledged to rebuild relationships with stakeholders while continuing to expand football development around the world.
The withdrawal, however, did little to ease criticism.
UEFA welcomed FIFA’s decision but declared that Infantino had lost its confidence as well as the confidence of many within the football community. It described the proposal as an opaque backroom deal and called for a broad review of FIFA’s leadership.
England’s Football Association aligned itself with UEFA’s position, while CONCACAF and other voices also demanded greater accountability.
Instead of ending the controversy, the reversal reinforced the perception among many critics that Infantino had badly misjudged the mood of world football.
Long-standing criticism resurfaces
The episode revived accusations that FIFA has become increasingly centralized under Infantino.
Former UEFA president Michel Platini, who worked alongside Infantino during his time as UEFA secretary-general, has repeatedly accused his former colleague of concentrating too much power.
“Unfortunately Infantino has become more of an autocrat since the pandemic,” Platini told The Guardian earlier this year.
“I think he lost the game. There is less democracy than in Blatter’s time.”
Platini, who was cleared by Swiss courts after being prosecuted over a FIFA payment that effectively ended his own presidential ambitions, argued that Infantino had changed after taking charge of FIFA.
“He was a good No. 2, but is not a good No. 1,” Platini said.
“He worked very well at UEFA but he has one problem: he likes the rich and powerful people, the ones with money.”
From dominance to uncertainty
Until recently, Infantino appeared politically untouchable.
Since succeeding Sepp Blatter in 2016, he has overseen record commercial revenues, expanded both the men’s World Cup and Club World Cup, increased development funding and won reelection unopposed in 2019 and 2023.
The successful staging of the first 48-team World Cup seemed to further strengthen his position.
Instead, the failed investor plan exposed frustrations that had been building for years over FIFA’s governance, decision-making and relationship with its member associations.
Many observers believe the proposal failed because it was introduced without sufficient consultation, relied heavily on financial incentives to secure support and became entangled in political controversies surrounding its proposed investors.
Defining months ahead
Infantino remains FIFA president and has vowed to restore unity across the global game.
Whether he succeeds may determine not only his political future but also the direction of FIFA itself.
The next presidential election will take place in Rabat next March, with nominations closing on Nov. 18.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez have once again become the focus of intense wedding speculation after reports claimed the longtime couple could finally marry in Portugal this week.
While multiple media outlets have published details of an alleged ceremony, neither Ronaldo nor Rodriguez has confirmed a wedding date, leaving the reports unverified.
The latest rumors gained momentum after the couple were photographed wearing eye-catching diamond rings during a private jet trip and while vacationing in Mallorca. Rodriguez also shared photos on social media featuring her engagement ring, prompting fresh speculation that wedding plans could be imminent.
Ronaldo and Rodriguez first met in Madrid in 2016 while she was working at a Gucci boutique and he was starring for Real Madrid. They made their relationship public the following year and have since built a family together. Rodriguez has played a central role in raising Ronaldo’s children, including Cristiano Jr., twins Eva Maria and Mateo, and the couple’s daughters Alana Martina and Bella Esmeralda. Their son Angel tragically died during childbirth in 2022.
The engagement became official in August 2025 after Ronaldo proposed. Rodriguez announced the news on social media with a heartfelt acceptance message alongside a photo of her massive oval-cut diamond ring, which jewelry experts have valued at several million dollars.
Later that year, Ronaldo revealed more about the proposal during an interview with Piers Morgan, saying he knew the time was right to ask Rodriguez to marry him.
“I will marry her because I believe the right time has come. Not just because she is the mother of my children, but because she is the person I love most in life.”
The Portugal captain also said at the time that he hoped the wedding would take place after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Portugal’s tournament ended in the round of 16, fueling expectations that the ceremony could follow soon afterward.
Initial reports from Portuguese media suggested the wedding would be held on Aug. 1 at the historic Quinta da Regaleira estate in Sintra. Those claims quickly unraveled after the venue remained open to tourists and scheduled public events proceeded as planned.
Spanish magazine ¡Hola! dismissed the reports, while a close associate of Rodriguez reportedly described the alleged wedding invitation circulating online as fake. Ronaldo added to the speculation by posting family vacation photos captioned “Ainda nao” (“Not yet”), seemingly signaling that no ceremony had taken place. His sister, Katia Aveiro, also said publicly that no wedding date had been set.
Attention has since shifted to Ronaldo’s hometown of Madeira.
According to reports from British tabloid The Sun and Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã, the couple are now rumored to be planning a ceremony on Aug. 8 at Funchal Cathedral, followed by a private reception at the luxury Savoy Palace hotel.
The reports claim sections of the hotel have been reserved for a private event, although no official confirmation has been provided by the couple, their representatives or the venues involved.
Madeira would be a fitting location given Ronaldo’s deep ties to the island, where he was born and maintains several business interests.
Despite the growing speculation, the only confirmed fact remains the couple’s engagement. Neither Ronaldo nor Rodriguez has announced a wedding date, venue or guest list, and previous rumors have repeatedly been denied or disproved.
Veteran Bosnian star and former Fenerbahçe forward Edin Dzeko has signed a one-year contract extension with German Schalke after helping them return to the Bundesliga last season, the club said Monday.
The 40-year-old, who captained Bosnia-Herzegovina at the recent World Cup, joined Schalke on a free transfer in January.
He scored six goals in 11 Bundesliga 2 matches to help the team win promotion back to the top flight after three years in the second tier.
“Winning promotion to the Bundesliga ranks among the highlights of my career. It was unbelievable,” Dzeko said in a statement.
“Football has made me happy and driven me throughout my life. I am still hungry, and I want to help our team in the Bundesliga too.”
Dzeko could play his first Bundesliga match since leaving Wolfsburg for Manchester City in 2011 when Schalke kick off their league campaign at Augsburg on Aug. 30.
His former clubs also include Roma, Inter Milan and Fenerbahçe.
Juventus bolstered its squad Sunday by signing Bosnian teen prospect Kerim Alajbegovic from Bayer Leverkusen on a five-year contract and bringing back French forward Randal Kolo Muani for a second stint.
The 18-year-old Alajbegovic played in all four of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s matches at this summer’s World Cup, after a breakout season with Red Bull Salzburg.
Leverkusen activated a buy-back clause in the deal with Salzburg before agreeing to sell the winger to Juventus for 30 million euros ($34.6 million).
Juventus also completed a permanent move for Paris Saint-Germain forward Kolo Muani, who had a successful loan spell in Turin during the second half of the 2024-25 season.
However, he struggled to make an impact at Tottenham last term, scoring just five goals in 41 appearances as the club narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League.
Kolo Muani returns to Juventus on a five-year contract for an initial fee of 38 million euros. The amount could rise to 50 million based on bonuses.
Kolo Muani joined European champions PSG in 2023 for a reported 75 million euros but failed to justify the price tag, with a return of 11 goals in 54 games.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggested Sunday that FIFA President Gianni Infantino should step down, saying he is no longer fit to lead world football’s governing body after the collapse of a plan to sell stakes in World Cup commercial rights.
“I do not believe that he is the right man to lead football forward on the world stage,” Burnham said. “The plan that was put forward was offensive to many people, football people, around the world, and it can’t be the case that we just move on and forget that, it wasn’t acceptable.”
On Saturday, European football’s governing body UEFA said it had lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership – possibly paving the way for a challenge to Infantino’s presidency.
The governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean soccer (CONCACAF) said FIFA leadership had “stopped putting football first.”
Infantino was forced into a backdown over his controversial plans to sell World Cup profits through a commercial subsidiary that would run its top competitions.
Infantino’s plans fell apart after UEFA’s 55-member nations agreed Thursday to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions. CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation also said they opposed the plan.
Despite Infantino’s climbdown, UEFA said it would work with other confederations to “devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again.”
“No option should be off the table,” it said.
While Infantino has received pockets of public support from associations including 2022 World Cup host Qatar, Burnham’s words were further evidence of the anger generated by his plans.
The next FIFA presidential election is in March in Rabat, Morocco. The deadline for candidates to enter the presidential contest is Nov. 18, exactly four months ahead of the vote.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka heads into this week’s WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto with her top ranking under threat as she builds toward her U.S. Open title defense.
Sabalenka has won 23 of her 24 hard court matches this year, the lone defeat her loss to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final.
But she was turfed out in the quarterfinals on the clay of Roland Garros and fell to Naomi Osaka in the Round of 16 on the grass courts of Wimbledon.
If Sabalenka fails to reach the Round of 16 in Toronto, Kazakhstan’s Rybakina can rise to No. 1 if she lifts the trophy.
Sabalenka has never made it past the semifinals in Canada, which alternates each year between Montreal and Toronto, but she said she was feeling rested and ready to reassert herself after taking time off in the wake of her All England Club exit.
“Clay and grass, I wouldn’t say they were that bad,” she said. “I was trying a couple of things, didn’t go the way that I expected. And now we’re kind of back to basics and I really hope it’s going to work out well.”
Sabalenka had exited Wimbledon saying she wanted to “forget about tennis.”
She did that with a summer holiday on the Greek island of Mykonos.
“I think the rest was much-needed,” she told reporters Sunday. “I spent there five, six days maybe. I felt much better, I couldn’t wait to get back on court and start working toward my goals for this swing.”
Sabalenka heads a top half of the draw that also includes two-time winner Jessica Pegula, the third seed, 2024 finalist Amanda Anisimova and seventh-seeded Iga Swiatek of Poland.
Former world No. 1 Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, will be aiming to regroup after slumping to a third-round defeat at Wimbledon.
Rybakina anchors a bottom half of the draw that also includes fourth-seeded Coco Gauff, four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka and newly crowned Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
Czech Noskova, who broke into the Top 10 after winning her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, is seeded sixth and could face another rising star in the Philippines’ Alexandra Eala in the third round.
They have met twice already this year, with Noskova winning both times.
Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova is among the notable absentees as she recovers from a minor surgery.
Reigning champion Victoria Mboko of Canada, who thrilled Montreal fans with her run to a first WTA title last year, remains sidelined with the knee injury that forced her out of Wimbledon.
Tricky schedule
The ATP Masters 1000 in Montreal this week has also been hit by high-profile defections, including that of Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner.
Sabalenka said the scheduling is “tricky” for any player that does well in the grass-court season, with the Canadian tournaments followed by a 1000-level event in Cincinnati in a schedule that offers little respite before the U.S. Open begins on Aug. 30.
“If you go far at the grass court (season) you feel really fatigued and you’re not able to pull out any good tennis so what’s the reason of coming when your body is really so much stress,” she said. “It’s very tricky, but this year I didn’t do well so I’m here.”
All 32 seeded players received first-round byes.
Play got underway Sunday with Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima booking a second-round meeting with Sabalenka with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Spain’s Cristina Bucsa.
Czech Sara Bejlek posted a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory over China’s Wang Xiyu, who was hobbled by a left leg problem, and booked a second-round meeting with Swiatek.
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams bowed out in the first round, falling 6-4, 6-1 to Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova.
UEFA and CONCACAF said Saturday they no longer had confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino, escalating pressure over his scrapped plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights.
The dramatic fallout from Infantino’s scrapped $4.2-billion proposal has exposed growing unease within world football over his leadership style, with European governing body UEFA leading a chorus of criticism that could complicate his re-election hopes.
FIFA’s proposal had triggered a fierce backlash from regional confederations who said they were blindsided by Infantino’s plans to sell stakes to private investors in a new unit that would run FIFA events, including the World Cup.
Football officials are now demanding greater oversight of decisions that could reshape the governance and commercial future of the sport.
UEFA, whose 55 members had unanimously rejected the proposal earlier this week, declared FIFA’s retreat a “victory for the whole game” while adding that the “task of rebuilding trust in FIFA” had only just begun.
“The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family,” UEFA said in a statement.
“UEFA thanks all the fans, leagues, clubs, players, individuals, associations and confederations that opposed the scheme, alongside the many Prime Ministers, Heads of State and commentators who have demonstrated to the FIFA President that football is not for sale,” it said in a statement.
“We cannot keep going on like this with secret schemes on fast-track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game. We must identify those responsible and hold them to account.”
North America, Central America and the Caribbean confederation CONCACAF said the proposal was advanced outside all established governance processes, with no transparency, consultation or due process.
“A proposal of this magnitude does not reach that stage by accident. It is a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first,” it said.
“This recent unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership follows a pattern of missteps and similar behavior. A comprehensive reckoning with this presidency is imperative,” CONCACAF added.
‘Back-room, opaque deal’
The backlash raised questions about Infantino’s political capital as he prepares to seek another term in office.
UEFA reminded Infantino about the promises he made when he was elected FIFA president in 2016, including pledges to run the governing body transparently and to treat FIFA’s funds as belonging to its member associations.
“On both these promises, he has failed to deliver. The shabby, back-room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through was anything but transparent,” UEFA added.
“And with reserves standing at over $5 billion, he has also failed to use associations’ money for the benefit of the game.
“UEFA will begin work immediately with partners and stakeholders all over the world and right across the game to propose a new way of distributing resources through the existing FIFA Forward programme.”
FIFA and Infantino declined to comment on UEFA’s statement.
The Dutch FA said the process led to a “fundamental breach of trust” in Infantino, while German FA chief Bernd Neuendorf said the Swiss official “acted unilaterally and without transparency,” failing to operate in the sport’s best interests.
Spanish La Liga President Javier Tebas called for Infantino’s resignation, saying that the withdrawal of the proposal was good news but did not resolve the governance problem.
“The problem was never just one proposal. The problem is a governance model that concentrates power, reduces checks and balances and marginalizes those directly affected by its decisions,” he said on social media.
“I believe that Gianni Infantino should not continue in charge of FIFA. World football needs new leadership to modernise its governance, regain institutional credibility and make future decisions in consultation with those involved,” he added.
However, Infantino received support from Qatar, who said the proposal had merit and fully supported his efforts.
The president of the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Fouzi Lekjaa, also welcomed the decision to withdraw the proposal but reiterated his support for Infantino.
Storm of opposition
Infantino’s plan, announced Tuesday, quickly ran into a storm of opposition from regional confederations, who complained they had not been consulted on a move that could alter the commercial structure of world football.
Following the backlash, Infantino said world football’s governing body had abandoned the plans after listening “carefully to all the views.”
Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa Saturday welcomed FIFA’s reversal.
Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman said he expected that “any initiative that has the potential to impact global football will be presented and discussed with the Confederations, the FIFA Council, Member Associations and other stakeholders in a timely, transparent and meaningful manner.”
“The future of global football must always be shaped through proper consultation, collective dialogue and respect for the established governance structures of our game,” he added.
Re-election hopes hurt
The controversy comes at an awkward moment for Infantino, who said in April that he intended to seek re-election for a fourth term as FIFA president.
Since taking over from Sepp Blatter in 2016, he has been re-elected unopposed twice and appeared firmly in control of the organization.
While his re-election for the 2027-31 term had appeared a formality, experts told Reuters the backlash against the failed proposal exposed dissatisfaction among some FIFA members and could complicate his path ahead of March’s Congress in Morocco.
“He’s obviously been kind of egomaniacal in everything that he’s done. I know that he’s rubbed many of the member associations the wrong way with some of his decisions,” Bob Dorfman, a sports marketing analyst, said.
The speed of the turnaround has been particularly striking, coming less than two weeks after Infantino was toasting the most commercially successful World Cup in history.
“As close as two weeks ago, he’s riding on top of the world, the most successful sports mega event in the history of this planet,” said economist Victor Matheson, a sports business expert at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts.
“And just two weeks later, he’s fighting for his political life,” he added.
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