Mattias Grafstrom, FIFA Secretary General, on World Cup sell plan: “Sad and reproachable series of events”
Gianni Infantino’s idea to privatize the World Cup and sell equity to private investors has backfired and now even people inside of FIFA are turning on him.
Things seem to be crumbling all around Gianni Infantino in the days following his failed plan to sell shares of World Cup events to private investors. We have already seen one of this closest confidants Carlos Cordeiro step down, and now we have FIFA’s Secretary General blasting Gianni Infantino’s idea in an internal staff message that reached the public.
For our eyes only
Sky News obtained the message that was written by Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom and sent within the FIFA offices. After soccer federations around the world and UEFA condemned the idea before threatening a boycott the upcoming World Cups, FIFA scrapped the plan but the fall out is still sending shockwaves throughout the soccer world and throughout the world soccer governing body.
Grafstrom was a part of UEFA before Gianni Infantino recruited him after being elected president of FIFA. He has spent ten years working in close contact with Infantino and was named Secretary General in May of 2024. Now the Swedish administrator is turning on the chief of staff following a failed plan that seemed to be headed by the president and few others in the FIFA offices. While Grafstrom didn’t mention his boss directly in the message, he did take a strong stance against Infantino’s plan.
🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Gianni Infantino is FORCED to WITHDRAW the World Cup sell-off plan.
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) July 31, 2026
"The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where… pic.twitter.com/H030XknARu
The Secretary General began his message saying, ”A sad and reproachable series of events - which were thankfully concluded with the FFE project permanently abandoned - for as much as we feel dismayed by them, should not overshadow this reality.” The FFE, or FIFA Forward Enterprise, was the organization that was planned to take charge of commercial and event operations, and was eventually going to be up for sale to private investors.
Grafstrom jumps ship
With the immediate backlash from the soccer world and eventual scrapping of the plan, Grafstrom distanced himself and his peers from Infantino, while encouraging them to continue serving the sport. ”We have all been thrown into the middle of a turmoil, which is difficult to comprehend and accept, but, as Secretary General, I urge you to remain focused on what has always united us: serving football and serving our 211 Member Associations, hand in hand with all relevant stakeholders and in full compliance with the FIFA Statutes and FIFA Regulations,” said Grafstrom.
It appears evident that the Swede, along with others were not involved in the planning of the FFE’s selling off and promised those within FIFA that they would not be left to fend for themselves. “I assure you that you as members of the administration, you will be defended and safeguarded from the political context we currently experience. You do not need to worry.” Grafsrom continued, “Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue, and that is why we should always keep our professionalism, sense of perspective and composure.”
The Secretary General went on to thank the staff for their commitment and dedication to the game before ending the message saying, “I also want you to know that my door remains open for you, and I will continue to support our teams, our work and our mission every hour of every day for as long as my work is valued by those we serve,” before concluding, “The last week has been both extraordinary and challenging for all the members of FIFA staff in our offices around the world.”
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