Infantino faces FIFA rebels in Zurich after failed World Cup stake sale

What the report says

Gianni Infantino is due to face FIFA’s top leadership in Zurich on Thursday at a Council meeting that comes after his plan to sell a stake in FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, was abandoned. The gathering is set to bring together representatives from the sport’s major regional bodies, including UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF, amid renewed pressure on the FIFA president from critics who want changes in how the organization is run.

According to Al Jazeera’s report, the failed commercial plan centered on the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme, which would have brought in private investors through a minority stake in a FIFA commercial unit. The article says the proposal triggered resistance across world football and exposed divisions between Infantino and several confederation leaders. The meeting is also expected to address FIFA governance, disciplinary rules, financial reserves and the group’s Peace Prize.

A separate item on the agenda is a proposed $6.35 billion development fund for the 2026-2030 period. That plan would distribute money to FIFA’s 211 member federations and regional confederations, and could include $25 million for each national association, according to the report. The fund would be financed partly from reserves and expected income from a commercially strong 2026 World Cup.

The meeting matters because it could shape the balance of power inside FIFA ahead of the 2027 presidential election. While Infantino remains expected to have support from some regions, the article says his opponents are trying to isolate him further and press for greater oversight.