Amid the wave of opposition, FIFA still decides to keep the World Cup reform plan.

Amid the wave of opposition from UEFA and many federations, FIFA President Gianni Infantino affirmed that the plan to sell World Cup shares is only a proposal, not mandatory.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has officially spoken out to defend the plan to sell World Cup commercial shares. after this proposal faced a strong wave of opposition from UEFA and many national football federations.

In the latest statement, the FIFA head affirmed that the project is not mandatory but only an option to generate additional financial resources to develop football globally.

According to the plan, FIFA wants to sell part of the World Cup's commercial rights to private investors. This model is expected to help the tournament generate greater revenue, while opening opportunities for reinvestment in football communities that are still facing difficulties.

As soon as the information was announced, UEFA and many member federations such as England and France expressed opposition, fearing that involving private investors would change the nature of the World Cup and affect FIFA's control over the biggest tournament on the planet.

In response to those criticisms, Infantino posted a video to clarify his viewpoint. "This is only a proposal and an invitation to cooperate. This process is completely democratic. More importantly, it is an opportunity, not a mandatory obligation," the FIFA President emphasized.

Infantino believes that most of the commercial value generated by football has not been distributed fairly. "Currently, only a very small portion of the increasing commercial value of football reaches the places that truly need support to develop this sport," he said.

The FIFA head believes that the project will help many countries invest more strongly in youth football, infrastructure, and long-term development programs. "This is a golden opportunity to promote the development of football worldwide. But let me reiterate, this is only a proposal, not a coercion," Infantino affirmed.

Concluding the message, the FIFA President emphasized that all final decisions still belong to the member federations. "We want to help football nations like Cape Verde to rise stronger. However, the decision-making power is entirely in the hands of FIFA's members," he concluded.