After the confederations' protests, Infantino abandoned his project

FIFA President Gianni Infantino withdrew his proposal to bring private investors into the organization of World Cups following sharp protests from the football confederations of Europe, Asia, and North America.

"Having listened carefully to all opinions, I clearly understood that this project has caused a division of such a nature that, regardless of the level of support [for the project], it no longer serves the goals for which it was proposed," Reuters reported Infantino's statement.

Infantino's project was most firmly condemned by the football confederations of Europe, North and Central America, and Asia. This meant that Infantino's project would most likely not have gathered a majority of votes in FIFA anyway: nearly two-thirds of the world's national football federations and associations belong to these three confederations.

"FIFA must stop using our sport for its own enrichment and the enrichment of its friends," the Union of European Football Associations, UEFA, stated.

"Having listened carefully to all opinions, I clearly understood that this project has caused a division of such a nature that, regardless of the level of support [for the project], it no longer serves the goals for which it was proposed," Reuters reported Infantino's statement.

Infantino's project was most firmly condemned by the football confederations of Europe, North and Central America, and Asia. This meant that Infantino's project would most likely not have gathered a majority of votes in FIFA anyway: nearly two-thirds of the world's national football federations and associations belong to these three confederations.

"FIFA must stop using our sport for its own enrichment and the enrichment of its friends," the Union of European Football Associations, UEFA, stated.