FIFA opens key documents on abandoned World Cup investment plan

FIFA has agreed to allow members of its ruling Council to inspect key documents relating to the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, which proposed opening up the organisation's major competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.

The decision was communicated in a letter sent on Monday, November 2, by FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström to the organisation’s 37 Council members, including President Gianni Infantino and eight vice-presidents.

According to a source close to FIFA who spoke to AFP, Council members have been given two weeks to indicate whether they wish to examine the documents.

However, access will be restricted to in-person inspections under specific conditions at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.

The move comes amid growing tensions between FIFA and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), which has been demanding greater transparency over the proposed investment scheme.

The FFE initiative was introduced by Infantino in late July 2026 as a proposed commercial venture intended to increase the financial value of FIFA competitions and generate additional resources for football development worldwide.

However, the proposal faced strong opposition from several football stakeholders, particularly UEFA, which questioned its governance, transparency and potential financial implications.

Infantino subsequently abandoned the project following widespread criticism.

Despite its withdrawal, UEFA has continued seeking explanations about how the initiative was developed and who was involved in its planning.

The European governing body also approached a court in Florida, United States, seeking access to documents that could support a possible legal complaint in Switzerland over alleged criminal mismanagement.

Following a FIFA Council meeting on October 15, UEFA Secretary General Theodore Theodoridis sent Grafström a letter containing more than 40 questions and requests for information concerning the FFE proposal.

The correspondence also raised other controversial matters, including FIFA’s decision to award its Peace Prize to United States President Donald Trump and the circumstances surrounding the reversal of the suspension of American international Folarin Balogun following his red card at the World Cup.

UEFA had set November 2 as the deadline for FIFA to respond to its questions. However, FIFA did not provide a response within the requested timeframe, describing the deadline as impractical.

The dispute comes at a significant time for Infantino, who is seeking a fourth term as FIFA president in the March 2027 election.

Candidates intending to challenge him must declare their interest by November 18.

His re-election campaign received a major boost on October 23 when the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) publicly endorsed his bid, strengthening his position ahead of the vote.

Meanwhile, Victor Montagliani, president of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), had been mentioned as a possible challenger.

However, his intention to seek another term at CONCACAF makes a FIFA presidential challenge less likely.

Former Switzerland international and ex-Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic defender Ramon Vega has also expressed willingness to contest the FIFA presidency, although it remains uncertain whether he can secure the necessary support.