For the second time since the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) first emerged in July, after this summer’s World Cup in North America, the organization’s president has apologized for the failed plan.
However, England’s Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt was seemingly unconvinced by Infantino’s smooth talk, calling him “not fit to be FIFA President” if certain questions remain unanswered, when speaking with reporters after the meeting.
The FFE would essentially have seen the World Cup, along with other commercial assets, packaged into its own subsidiary. Plans were already in place for a private investment group, led by the brother of U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, Joshua, to invest $4.2 billion into the FFE.
UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC wasted no time in condemning the plans, as FIFA member nations lined up to withdraw their support for Infantino’s leadership. The timing of this was especially painful for the current president given that a fresh election for his role is scheduled for March 2027.
The plans were officially withdrawn following a crisis meeting in Morocco in August, where Infantino co-signed a letter apologizing for the controversial project, which saw multiple calls for his resignation.
Now, at the first FIFA Council meeting since the plans became public, the hot topic was, naturally, the FFE for which Infantino grovelled once again. In a video published by FIFA, he appeared to downplay the FFE’s seriousness, saying, “First of all, I apologize for the mistakes that we made in relation to the communication and consultation process related to the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, which then led to many consequences.
“But what is important to remember is that it was a proposal, so in no way a done deal, just a proposal that actually intended to enable FIFA to invest more in our member associations as opposed to replacing support from existing resources.
“Its intention was merely to create more success stories like the ones that inspired people around the world during the FIFA World Cup 2026, because football is for everyone, everywhere.
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“But I feel we had a constructive discussion about processes, about the proposal, about everything that is connected with that, with different opinions, different points of views. And we are now happy to receive all the questions that were posed by FIFA Council members and to respond to these questions, of course, in writing in due course.”
Infantino’s explanation simply wasn’t enough for Hewitt, however, who firmly believes that he is not being fully transparent when it comes to the FFE. “We all have an obligation, if we do see a responsibility, to answer the questions that have been put forward,” she said, via Dan Roan.
“He's told us to submit those questions, there were so many of them, and now it's up to him to do that and do that in the open way, and for me the minimum is having the papers from FFE because if there's nothing to hide, then share them with us.
“And in fact, one of the most important things Gianni Infantino said in his apology was that he really apologized for not bringing it to the council. He regrets that deeply, and you could see from his body language, he felt that.
“In which case the question was: if you regret it that deeply, share it with us, because if you always intended to bring it to us, why will you not now share it with us? What's changed? Because if you had your time again, you regret what you did, so bring them to us.”
Beyond the FFE, Infantino also discussed the newly proposed FIFA Surplus Solidarity Program, which was agreed upon and will see the 211 member nations receive extra funding between 2027 and 2030.
“So let me say that in 10 years since I am FIFA president, we have gone from $1 million per FIFA member association to $25 million per FIFA member association all across the world,” Infantino boasted.
The final details of this proposal still need to be agreed to, with the Council set to forward the plans to the Congress for budgetary approval in December.
Another divisive subject addressed by Infantino was the Peace Prize, rapidly introduced in 2025 and subsequently awarded to Trump, shortly after his Nobel Peace Prize snub.
“For the FIFA Peace Prize, it was decided that the football social responsibility committee will be tasked to analyze it, provide a proposal, and also their decision will be taken at the next FIFA Council meeting,” Infantino said.
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As for UEFA’s call for 'fundamental reform' within FIFA - as part of the European governing body’s continued attack on Infantino since this summer - the Swiss executive confirmed that a “reform task force” will be formed.
“Looking at the future and at the governance of FIFA and its governance framework, a working group will be established together with the confederations to look at potential governance reforms,” he explained.
“And of course, all confederations, member associations, stakeholders are invited to provide proposals so that this committee, this working group, reform working group, or reform task force will be able to analyze them and come up with positive proposals for the future of FIFA's governance.”