FIFA President Gianni Infantino has withdrawn a proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup following intense backlash, prompting Uefa to demand a fundamental review of FIFA's governance.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has abandoned plans to sell portions of the World Cup to private investors after facing significant internal and external opposition. The proposal, which reportedly led to staff resignations, drew sharp criticism from Uefa, which declared that the current FIFA leadership has lost its confidence. Uefa has now called for a thorough review of FIFA's governance, citing concerns over secretive decision-making processes.

Uefa Demands Governance Reform

In a formal statement, Uefa leadership criticized what it described as "secret schemes" and "shabby backroom deals" within FIFA. While stopping short of explicitly calling for Infantino’s resignation, Uefa indicated it is working with other confederations to ensure such proposals cannot recur. The organization accused Infantino of failing to uphold transparency and accountability pledges made during his initial 2016 election campaign.

Opposition and Future Elections

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin successfully secured support from all 55 member associations for a potential World Cup boycott. European officials are reportedly identifying potential candidates to challenge Infantino in next year’s FIFA presidential election, which is scheduled for March at the FIFA Congress in Rabat. The Football Association has publicly aligned itself with Uefa, stating that the World Cup belongs to the sport.