Former Arsenal manager Wenger says he was unaware of Infantino's World Cup sell‑off plan

Arsène Wenger, a senior executive of FIFA, publicly endorsed the governing body’s recent decision to abandon President Gianni Infantino’s proposed “World Cup sell‑off” scheme. The plan, unveiled earlier this year, aimed to commercialise the tournament by offering a package of rights and assets to private investors in an effort to generate additional revenue streams for the sport. After intense scrutiny from member associations, sponsors and media outlets, the FIFA Council voted to suspend the initiative pending further review.

Wenger’s support underscores a broader consensus within FIFA that the proposal risked undermining the organization’s commitment to equitable distribution of football’s most lucrative event. In his statement, the former Arsenal manager highlighted the importance of preserving the World Cup’s integrity and ensuring that any future commercial ventures align with the sport’s global development goals. The council’s reversal is expected to maintain the existing framework for World Cup governance while allowing time for a more transparent and inclusive discussion on potential revenue‑generation models.