The Divide · August 1, 2026
FIFA shelves plan to sell stake in World Cup commercial rights after resignations and broad backlash
FIFA president Gianni Infantino proposed spinning off the organization's commercial operations into a new $20 billion subsidiary, with private investors acquiring a 20% stake. The plan faced widespread opposition from member associations and European soccer body UEFA, and was ultimately shelved. Victor Cordeiro, a former U.S. Soccer Federation president and White House Task Force for the World Cup representative, resigned in protest over the proposal.
How the coverage split
The Washington Examiner led with Cordeiro's White House advisory role and foregrounded the Kushner family's connection to the anchor investment firm.
Reuters did not emphasize the Kushner connection, focusing instead on the institutional threat the backlash posed to Infantino's leadership.
What both sides skipped
No source cited the specific timeline or mechanism by which the proposal was formally withdrawn or shelved, nor which FIFA body made that decision.
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