Infantino sought $250M for U-15 World Cup without telling FIFA Council

FIFA President Gianni Infantino solicited more than $250 million in private investment proposals for a proposed Under-15 World Cup without informing the FIFA Council, according to The Athletic. The revelation adds another layer of controversy to Infantino's tenure, which has come under intense scrutiny since his broader plans to sell a stake in the men's World Cup collapsed amid global backlash earlier this summer.goal+2

The Disney and ESPN Plan

The initiative, inspired by baseball's Little League World Series, envisioned a tournament featuring all 211 FIFA member associations. Infantino held discussions with ESPN The Walt Disney Company ↘ 0.60% about both broadcasting the event in the United States and hosting it at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, which sits within the Walt Disney World resort. Opening and closing ceremonies were proposed to take place at Disney theme parks.awfulannouncing+2

The commercial framework was drawn up by former Mexican Football Federation commissioner Juan Carlos Rodríguez and backed by Eldridge Industries, chaired by Chelsea FC co-owner Todd Boehly. FIFA informed Boehly's Eldridge and Rodríguez shortly before the 2026 World Cup that it would not move forward with the proposal.bignewsnetwork+1

Israel-Palestine Opening and Broader Fallout

Among the more controversial elements was Infantino's original vision for the tournament's opening match to be played between Israel and Palestine as a gesture of unity. The idea was removed from the final draft after delegates from both federations refused to shake hands at a FIFA Congress in Vancouver.goal+1

The U-15 project is now the latest example of Infantino operating outside established FIFA governance structures. UEFA has said it has lost confidence in the FIFA president, and the European body is pursuing criminal proceedings against him in Swiss court related to the broader private equity plans.cnbc+1

What Comes Next

Despite the shelving of the Disney-backed concept, Infantino announced in late August that FIFA will hold the first-ever U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, this October, open to all 211 member associations. He described it as "a festival for children, where more than 4,000 children will play football together". The event will proceed without the private equity backing or ESPN partnership originally envisioned, representing a far more modest version of Infantino's initial ambitions.goal