FA and UEFA Demand FIFA Transparency on World Cup Sell-Off Plan

The English Football Association and UEFA are intensifying pressure on FIFA President Gianni Infantino to disclose all documents related to a scrapped plan to sell commercial rights to the World Cup, escalating a governance crisis that has led to legal actions and plans for a leadership challenge. FA Chair Debbie Hewitt, who also serves as a FIFA vice-president and member of the FIFA Council, has written to Infantino demanding full transparency on the abandoned proposal before the FIFA Council meets on October 15, 2026. The plan, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise, aimed to raise $4.2 billion by selling a 21% stake in a new entity valued at $20 billion, with each of FIFA's member associations promised a one-time payment of $20 million. Infantino formally withdrew the proposal at the end of July 2026 after widespread backlash, including threats from UEFA to boycott all FIFA competitions. He apologized in August for the handling of the plan and pledged an internal review, but FIFA has not confirmed who is conducting the investigation, raising concerns about accountability. UEFA has stated it has lost confidence in Infantino and is pursuing legal actions in U.S.