FIFA Withdraws Plan to Sell Stakes in World Cup After Global Opposition

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced the withdrawal of the governing body's controversial proposal to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors following widespread opposition from football stakeholders.
Infantino said the proposal had "created divisions" within the football community and was no longer serving its intended purpose.
"As a result, this proposal will not proceed," he said.
The FIFA president had earlier proposed offering each of the organisation's 211 member associations $40 million (£30 million) in exchange for backing private investment in FIFA competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups.
The plan, however, faced strong resistance, particularly from UEFA, which had threatened to boycott future World Cups if the proposal was implemented. Other continental football governing bodies also rejected the initiative, forcing FIFA to abandon the plan.
The decision marks a significant reversal by FIFA after mounting pressure from football authorities who argued that the World Cup should remain free from private ownership interests.