Gianni Infantino, President of the International Association Football Federation (FIFA), has officially withdrawn his proposal to involve private investors in hosting the FIFA World Cup. The reversal follows intense backlash from football confederations across Europe, Asia, and North and Central America.

"Having listened attentively to all opinions, I realized one thing: this project has caused such a division that, regardless of its level of support, it no longer serves its intended objectives," Infantino stated, as quoted by Reuters.

The initiative faced severe condemnation from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). This opposition effectively blocked the project's viability, as these three bodies represent nearly two-thirds of all national football associations worldwide.