FIFA forced to deny Gianni Infantino made World Cup final offer for personal gain
FIFA forced to deny Gianni Infantino made World Cup final offer for personal gain
Matthew NeschisWed, August 5, 2026 at 10:14 PM UTC
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FIFA refuted claims that Gianni Infantino promised Morocco it would host the 2030 World Cup final -Credit:Getty Images
FIFA refuted claims that president Gianni Infantino promised Morocco it would host the 2030 World Cup final in exchange for support after his proposal to sell stakes in the tournament to private investors generated widespread calls for his resignation.
Seeking to capitalize on this year's World Cup success, FIFA explored the sale of a $20 billion minority stake in a newly created commercial entity. The governing body engaged in discussions with JPMorgan to secure billions of dollars by selling approximately 20 percent of the new venture to external investors.
Yet Infantino’s now-scrapped plan was swiftly met with a fierce wave of backlash, as UEFA member nations warned they may boycott upcoming World Cups if he proceeded with the sale. With his future at FIFA hanging in the balance, the 56-year-old has reportedly sought expressions of support from other countries.
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In an alleged attempt to secure endorsements during his reelection bid, The Times reported that Infantino offered Morocco the chance to hold the next World Cup final at Hassan II Stadium, a 115,000-seat venue in Casablanca.
Morocco is set to co-host the tournament in 2030 alongside Spain and Portugal, with another three matches taking place in South America.
A FIFA spokesman quickly shot down reports that Infantino made any such promise to Morocco.
“It is false and misleading to claim the FIFA president has made any promise in relation to hosting the World Cup 2030 final. A decision will be made by FIFA in due course,” they stated
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Gianni Infantino proposed a plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors -Credit:Getty Images
Earlier this year, Spanish FA president Rafael Louzan declared that Spain “will be the leader of the 2030 World Cup and the final of that World Cup will be here,” with Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid widely viewed as the most likely site of the culminating match.
In a letter issued to FIFA Council members, Infantino expressed his desire to "restore confidence in the organization" while acknowledging that "mistakes were made."
The letter read: “In this context, we acknowledge mistakes were made in the process of the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
“It was certainly not the intention for the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations to feel excluded from the process and it should have been handled differently. We acknowledge that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media.
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“We sincerely apologize for these errors and commit to them not happening again. With this in mind, we will conduct a necessary review, and a report will be presented to the FIFA Council at its next scheduled meeting.”
Addressing the backlash his retracted plan received, Infantino added: “With the project withdrawn, FIFA will no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process and will take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation.
“There are always lessons to be learned, and we will continue to improve our processes in light of this experience. In this instance, however, it is important to stress that, although mistakes were made, everything that was done, was done in full compliance with the FIFA regulatory framework.”
Source: “AOL Sports”
