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FIFA scraps controversial World Cup plan: Gianni Infantino no longer seeking $20 billion investment

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Amid intense pressure from all corners of the world and sport, the FIFA chief has called an end to a plan that seemed destined to alter the game in ways never seen before.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has abandoned his plan to sell equity in the World Cup after facing intense pushback from around the world, including opposition from within soccer's own governing body and a threatened walkout by European federations.
Infantino had pitched folding FIFA's commercial operations, which cover the men's and women's World Cups and Club World Cups, into a $20 billion spinoff company. FIFA identified the lead investor as a New York investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of United States President Donald Trump.
Infantino confirmed the "proposal will not proceed" in a statement on Friday.
"Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place," he said.