CONCACAF rejects FIFA’s World Cup commercial rights proposal amid growing opposition

Pressure is mounting on FIFA president Gianni Infantino after CONCACAF officially rejected the governing body’s controversial proposal to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup to private investors.

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), together with its 41 member associations, announced on Thursday that it had unanimously opposed the proposal, citing concerns over governance, transparency and the lack of consultation.

While stopping short of joining UEFA’s threat to boycott future FIFA competitions, CONCACAF made clear that it does not support the plan in its current form.

In a statement, the confederation said its members had expressed “deep concerns” over the proposal, highlighting what it described as an absence of due process, an unusually short consultation period and the fact that the initiative had not been reviewed or approved by FIFA’s governing bodies.

The latest development represents another setback for FIFA’s plan to create a commercial subsidiary that would oversee its flagship competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, while allowing external investors to purchase minority stakes.

CONCACAF’s rejection comes just hours after UEFA’s 55 member associations unanimously agreed they would boycott FIFA competitions if the proposal is approved. Unlike UEFA, however, CONCACAF has not threatened to withdraw from future tournaments.

FIFA’s proposal requires approval from its 211 member associations. With UEFA’s 55 nations and CONCACAF’s 41 associations now publicly opposing the initiative, Gianni Infantino faces growing resistance ahead of the vote.

Critics argue that the World Cup should remain under the complete control of football’s governing bodies rather than becoming partially owned by private investors, while FIFA maintains that the investment would generate additional revenue for the global development of the sport.

The proposal has become one of the most divisive issues in recent FIFA history, with opposition continuing to build across football’s governing confederations.