Gianni Infantino has built a highly visible FIFA presidency around commercial expansion, major-event spectacle, and a close public relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. He is now facing one of the strongest challenges to his leadership after FIFA abandoned a controversial plan to bring private investors into a new commercial subsidiary.
The proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise deal triggered a major revolt across world soccer, with UEFA leading the opposition and several national associations withdrawing support for Infantino’s 2027 re-election bid. On August 7, Norway’s football federation went further by formally calling for him to resign.
Infantino still retains significant support. CAF has unanimously backed him, while Mexico, Argentina, and several other associations have also publicly supported his leadership. His presidency is under serious pressure, but the fight over his future remains divided rather than settled.
What sparked FIFA’s internal revolt
The crisis erupted after FIFA proposed creating FIFA Forward Enterprise, a FIFA-owned and controlled subsidiary that would consolidate commercial rights and tournament operations, including broadcasting, sponsorship, licensing, ticketing, and hospitality.
FIFA said minority investors could acquire about 20% of the proposed company, with an initial capital raise of up to $4.2 billion based on an implied equity valuation of $20 billion. The proposal immediately triggered criticism over governance and consultation, with major figures inside and outside FIFA saying they had not been properly involved before details emerged.
The backlash quickly became an internal leadership crisis. Senior FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, while chief operating officer Kevin Lamour said the administration had been deceived and criticized the project for being driven without adequate internal consultation.
The collapsed World Cup investment deal
Infantino’s proposal would have placed FIFA’s major commercial rights and tournament operations inside FIFA Forward Enterprise, with minority investors acquiring about 20% of the new subsidiary. FIFA said FFE had an implied equity valuation of $20 billion and could raise up to $4.2 billion.
Thrive Eternal, a fund associated with Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital, was expected to lead the proposed investor group rather than acquire the entire stake itself. UEFA strongly opposed the project, and its 55 member associations backed a boycott of FIFA competitions while the proposal remained active.
FIFA ultimately abandoned the plan after the backlash. Separate reports suggested that a future executive or commissioner role could have been created for Infantino, but FIFA said such an arrangement had never been discussed.
The Trump card he’s reportedly playing
The New York Post reported that Infantino repeatedly tried to reach President Donald Trump after the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal collapsed and also sought a private discussion with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
FIFA strongly disputed that account, saying Infantino had not called Trump or members of his administration in recent days and describing the report as “pure fiction.” A U.S. State Department official separately said there were no plans for Rubio to speak with Infantino.
Infantino and Trump nevertheless have a well-documented public relationship. As pressure on his presidency has grown, Infantino has also highlighted messages of support from FIFA member associations, while opposition led by UEFA and several European federations has continued.
FIFA and the State Department deny the reported outreach
FIFA has denied reports that Infantino recently sought help from Trump or members of his administration, saying no such calls were made in recent days.
The New York Post also reported that Infantino sought a private discussion with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said there were no plans for Rubio to speak with Infantino.
The denials have not ended the wider leadership crisis. UEFA says it has lost confidence in Infantino’s presidency, and his campaign for a fourth and final term in 2027 now faces substantially greater opposition than it did before the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.
Fun fact: FIFA’s 211 member federations were each reportedly promised a payout of about $20 million if they backed the now-scrapped plan.
Federations turn against Infantino
Wales, Serbia, and Sweden have withdrawn support for Infantino’s 2027–2031 re-election bid following the collapse of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. Opposition has also intensified across UEFA, which says it has lost confidence in Infantino’s presidency and continues to threaten a boycott of FIFA competitions.
On August 7, Norway’s football federation went further by formally calling for Infantino to resign. The revolt is not universal, however: CAF has unanimously backed Infantino, while Mexico, Argentina, and several other associations have also publicly supported him.
Under the abandoned FFE proposal, FIFA planned to substantially increase development funding available to its 211 member associations, including $20 million in Forward funding during the 2027–2030 cycle and the possibility of additional funding for major development projects.
The money behind the proposed deal
FIFA said the proposed FFE capital raise could generate up to $4.2 billion, with the new investment intended to expand football development and support infrastructure projects such as stadiums and national training centers.
Thrive Eternal, a fund associated with Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital, was expected to lead the proposed investor group. Joshua Kushner is the brother of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
Those political and family connections added to scrutiny surrounding the proposal, particularly because of Infantino’s close public relationship with Trump. FIFA said it would have retained control of FFE, with outside investors holding minority, non-controlling interests.
A friendship forged in politics
Infantino and Trump have maintained a highly visible public relationship for years, dating back to Trump’s first presidency and continuing through the 2026 World Cup, which the United States co-hosted with Canada and Mexico.
On December 5, 2025, Infantino presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the World Cup draw in Washington. FIFA said the award recognized Trump’s efforts to promote peace and unity, while the decision also drew public criticism.
Infantino was first elected FIFA president in 2016 and was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023. He has announced his intention to seek another term in 2027, when the current revolt will test whether he can maintain sufficient support among FIFA’s 211 member associations.
Fun fact: Infantino was re-elected without opposition twice before, in 2019 and 2023. This revolt marks the first real threat to his grip on power.
What comes next for Infantino
The twenty twenty six World Cup itself was widely seen as a genuine financial success, pulling in roughly $15 billion, which flowed into FIFA’s coffers despite plenty of early skepticism about the American hosting arrangement.
That success has not fully shielded Infantino from the fallout of his own commercial ambitions and lingering secrecy. Federations now want real transparency before they will consider trusting him again with another four-year term.
Whether he ultimately survives the coming vote may depend less on soccer results and more on political alliances, boardroom diplomacy, and how quickly this entire scandal fades away from daily headlines around the world.
TL;DR
- Infantino tried to spin off FIFA’s commercial rights into FIFA Forward Enterprise, selling a 20% stake to Thrive Capital for over $4 billion.
- The deal collapsed Friday after fierce backlash, and would have paid Infantino $30 million a year, five times his current salary.
- Infantino reportedly sought help from Trump’s administration, including a possible call with Marco Rubio, though FIFA officially denies it was scheduled.
- Wales, England, Serbia, and Sweden have all withdrawn support for his 2027 re-election bid.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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