The Amount of Cash Infantino Would Have Earned If His World Cup Sale Plan Worked Is, Frankly Disgusting

How Much Would Gianni Infantino's World Cup Plan Have Earned Him?!

Gianni Infantino's decade-long tenure as FIFA President since taking the reigns has been filled with change and controversy, with the 56 year-old Swiss being at the heart of the expansion of both the FIFA Club World Cup to a 32-team tournament taking place every four years, and the expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams, and who could forget his infamous speech in 2022 in Qatar in response to criticism of the middle-eastern nations hosting of the tournament.

But the latest controversy involving Infantino could see his position of power under threat.

The Swiss already saw himself criticised and condemned by many during the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to FIFA's decision to 'suspend' a red card earned to USA striker Florian Balogun in the United States' round of 32 clash with Bosnia & Herzegovina, after USA president Donald Trump had allegedly personally called Infantino asking him to review the decision to send off the forward. FIFA suspended the one-game suspension to Balogun to allow him to play in the round of 16 match vs Belgium, which the USA lost 4-1.

Despite that, Infantino is now facing the most serious challenge to his position, due to a scheme proposed by Infantino to restructure the commercial business of FIFA to a new established project known as the FFE (FIFA forward Enterprise) and using to sell minority stakes and commercial rights of FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.

The scheme would allow for extortionate amounts of revenue to be earned by FIFA, and subsequently Infantino, due to the selling of the many different stakes and rights owned by FIFA. With the governing body raising an estimated $4.2 billion as a result, with Infantino himself earning approximately £47 million per year due to the proposal.

What Was The Reaction To The Plan?

However, just days after the announcement was proposed by Infantino, the plan was abandoned by FIFA, with the plan being met with widespread opposition from both supporters and authorities across the football world.

This was because despite FIFA stating the money earned from the proposed plan would allow larger payments towards the governing body's 211 member associations for the benefit of overall football development, much of footballs authorities believed that the World Cup's commercial rights should not be privatized and the proposal concentrated too much towards FIFA's power and leadership within the game.

The plan, to many, was the latest example in what has become a long line of controversies with Infantino at the heart of them. And quickly, support for Infantino has started to dramatically decrease.

UEFA has accused FIFA of failing to consult its stakeholders over the proposal for the FFE scheme, with relations between Infantino and the UEFA president Alexnader Čeferin broken down as a result of the crisis, following the two disagreeing over the expanded Club World Cup.

Arsene Wenger, Arsenal's legendary manager and the current FIFA Chief of Global Football Development, has released a personal statement where he has said it is his belief the withdrawel of the plan was "necessary" and "beyond question"

🗣️ Arsene Wenger statement on Gianni Infantino’s failed FFE plans. “The recent events at FIFA deserve some clarity from my side.

“At FIFA, I am the Chief of Global Football Development.

“Together with my team, I oversee the data analysis of the game, the FIFA online training… pic.twitter.com/cGJxK0OjXY

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) August 4, 2026

Tensions between FIFA and other confederations have also increased, as support for Infantino's presidency continues to fall. Several members of CONCACAF, The North and Central American governing body has reconsidered their support for Infantino, and parts of the Asian Football Confederation have also criticized FIFA's handling of the FFE proposal.

What Could Happen Next?

For now, Infantino remains in his position, but with many around the world of football considering their position over his presidency, a vote of no confidence in Infantino could be called, and if that occurs, it is unlikely the 56 year-old will remain as president of FIFA, as current relations between the world governing body and continental confederations such as UEFA rapidly deteriorating, the leadership of FIFA could see dramatic change sooner rather than later.