ZURICH (AP) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino is abandoning his divisive plan to sell World Cup profits to private equity after receiving pushback from all corners of the soccer world.
Infantino’s decision came after his senior adviser who sat on a White House panel resigned and Asia’s soccer body joined Europe and North America in opposing it.
“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,” Infantino said in a statement on Friday. “Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”
Infantino had proposed creating a $20 billion company to run the World Cup with private investors including the Kushner family, but drew backlash that grew every day since Tuesday's announcement.
UEFA’s 55-member nations agreed to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions over Infantino’s plan on Thursday. North America’s CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation also said they opposed the plan.
“Some things are simply too important to sell,” UEFA said in a statement. “The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.”
Infantino’s senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs banker who represented the soccer body on the White House Task Force for the World Cup, resigned on Friday and urged other senior FIFA staff to speak out.
“I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” Cordeiro said in a statement, just hours after FIFA insisted: “Nobody is selling football.”
Hours later, FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour issued a statement to The Associated Press, saying FIFA staff were deceived by Infantino's lack of openness in planning the sale over recent months and that the project must not continue.
“It is the project of one person,” Lamour, a longtime colleague of Infantino at both FIFA and European soccer body UEFA, wrote. “Not only must this project not go ahead … but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.”
Infantino has proposed spinning off FIFA’s commercial businesses — including World Cups and Club World Cups for men and women — into a $20 billion subsidiary with 20% owned by private investors.
The “anchor investor,” described by FIFA, is a New York-based investment firm created by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
The next FIFA competition is the Women’s Under-20 World Cup starting Sept. 5 in Poland — which UEFA members said they would boycott.
The misstep could prove costly for Infantino, particularly after the interventions by Lamour and Cordeiro.
Reelected unopposed in 2019 and 2023, Infantino is allowed one more four-year term under FIFA statutes. The deadline for the next presidential contest is Nov. 18, exactly four months ahead of the vote in Rabat, Morocco, where FIFA has its African headquarters.
Infantino's job seemed secured despite long-term unease with his style and previous attempts to force through unpopular projects, but could become more tenuous with the failed private equity proposal.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and AP World Cup coverage
FILE - Asia Football Confederation President Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, left, poses with FIFA President Gianni Infantino during an inauguration ceremony for the new building of the Asia Football Confederation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Detroit Tigers called up prized outfield prospect Max Clark from the minor leagues and scratched Casey Mize from his scheduled start as they began their final series before the trade deadline Friday.
The 21-year-old Clark was in the starting lineup batting seventh and playing center field against the Athletics on Friday night.
“He was killing it in Triple-A. Had one of the most impressive Julys in Toledo," manager A.J. Hinch said. "We’ve been watching his development all season, step by step. He’s really earned it. I think there’s not much more he needed to do there to show his readiness. Now we’re going to give him the next challenge, which is up here in the big leagues.”
Clark was picked third overall out of high school in the 2023 amateur draft. After getting off to a slow start this season at Triple-A, Clark has found his batting stroke of late and was hitting .276 with 11 homers, 42 RBIs and an .802 OPS for Toledo.
“I’m proud of him for the things that he’s addressed throughout the year,” Hinch said. “Being able to put together the July that he did, really started to force his way here.”
The promotion of Clark to the majors means the Tigers have their top two picks from the 2023 draft in the big leagues. Impressive shortstop Kevin McGonigle, picked 37th overall in that draft, is the favorite to win AL Rookie of the Year. He is batting .285 with nine homers, 37 RBIs and an .806 OPS this season and was selected for the All-Star Game on July 14.
While the plan is for Clark to be the everyday center fielder for Detroit and a building block for the future, Mize's status is uncertain. The front office told Hinch to push back Mize's next start until next Tuesday in Seattle, a day after the trade deadline, in case a deal can be reached before then.
Mize is 4-6 with a 2.70 ERA in 16 starts this season and is eligible to become a free agent following the World Series. He has been dealing with a groin injury this year but said he is healthy.
“It's a weird place to be. I feel like I’m in limbo a little bit,” Mize said. “I'm still obviously fully committed to this organization and this team. But for the ball to literally be taken out of my hands is a weird place to be. We’ll see what the weekend holds and if nothing happens, I’ll pitch on Tuesday and we’ll go from there. But it’s certainly a strange position to be in.”
Mize isn't the only Tigers pitcher in limbo as the deadline approaches, with the team starting the day with a 51-58 record and 4 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot.
Back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal also could be traded before he is eligible to become a free agent this offseason. Skubal has a $32 million salary, a record total in arbitration, after the team offered $19 million, and is expected to sign a massive contract in the offseason.
The 29-year-old lefty said in July that it was his preference to finish the season with the Tigers to compete for a World Series championship, which has eluded the franchise since 1984.
Skubal is 7-5 this season with a 2.79 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 96 2/3 innings.
To make room on the active roster for Clark, the Tigers placed outfielder Matt Vierling on the 10-day injured list with a left adductor strain that will keep him sidelined longer than that. The team also designated right-hander Andre Granillo for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
Detroit also recalled left-hander Enmanuel DeJesus from Toledo and optioned righty Brenan Hanifee to Triple-A.
Hinch also said right-hander Will Vest underwent surgery this week for the stress fracture in his elbow. Vest also will have surgery on his injured hip and miss the rest of the season.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
FILE - Detroit Tigers' Max Clark catches during workouts at spring training baseball, Feb. 19, 2026, in Lakeland. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Casey Mize throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
