Real Madrid has welcomed the FIFA investment reversal, describing the governing body’s decision to abandon its private investment proposal as good news for football and its supporters.
According to Vanguard, the Spanish club issued a statement on Sunday after FIFA President Gianni Infantino withdrew the controversial plan following widespread opposition from football organisations.
FIFA had proposed creating a new commercial subsidiary to manage its major competitions, including the World Cup and Club World Cup. Private investors would have been allowed to purchase minority stakes in the company.
Infantino argued that the arrangement could raise up to $4.2bn and provide more development funding for FIFA’s member associations.
However, UEFA and several other confederations strongly opposed the proposal, raising concerns about transparency, consultation and the future control of football’s biggest tournaments.
Real Madrid welcomes FIFA investment reversal
Real Madrid said FIFA’s decision protected the interests of clubs, football institutions and millions of supporters around the world.
“Our club believes this is good news for football, for its institutions and, above all, for the millions of fans of our beloved sport,” the club said.
The Spanish giants also expressed appreciation to UEFA and other football organisations that resisted the proposal.
“Real Madrid wishes to express its gratitude to UEFA, to the confederations and federations, and to all the institutions that firmly and responsibly opposed this project,” the statement added.
The club said their united opposition protected football during a decisive period.
“Their unity and sense of duty have protected football at a decisive moment,” Real Madrid said.
UEFA led opposition to Infantino’s plan
UEFA emerged as one of the strongest opponents of FIFA’s proposed commercial structure.
The European football body warned that its member associations could boycott FIFA competitions if Infantino proceeded with the project.
Other regional organisations, including Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation, also rejected the proposal and questioned FIFA’s decision-making process.
Their opposition made it increasingly difficult for Infantino to secure enough votes from FIFA’s 211 member associations.
FIFA eventually withdrew the plan on Friday, with Infantino admitting that the project had created divisions within world football.
He said the disagreement no longer served the proposal’s original objective and confirmed that it would not proceed.
Madrid and UEFA rebuild relationship
Real Madrid’s support for UEFA marks another sign of improving relations between both organisations.
The Spanish club was one of the founding members of the European Super League, a proposed breakaway competition announced in 2021.
The project created years of tension between Real Madrid and UEFA, which strongly resisted attempts to establish a rival European tournament.
However, Real Madrid announced in February 2026 that it had reached an agreement with UEFA aimed at protecting the future of European club football.
Its latest statement suggests that both sides have found common ground over the ownership and governance of major football competitions.
- Infantino remains under pressure
Although FIFA has abandoned the plan, the controversy has increased pressure on Infantino and raised questions about his leadership.
Critics accused FIFA of developing the proposal without adequate consultation with confederations, national associations and senior officials.
Some also questioned why FIFA needed private investors despite having considerable financial reserves and earning billions from its competitions.
Infantino must now rebuild relationships with organisations that opposed the proposal and restore confidence in FIFA’s governance.
Real Madrid maintained that the united response from football institutions prevented a project that could have changed the commercial future of the World Cup.
The club said the FIFA investment reversal represented a positive outcome for football and the people who support the game.
