FIFA to Allow Council Review of World Cup Commercialization Plan Documents

FIFA has agreed to grant its council members access to documentation concerning Infantino's shelved plan to commercialize World Cup operations, according to sources familiar with the decision. The viewing will be conducted under strict conditions, with council members required to travel to FIFA's Switzerland-based offices to review the materials.

The proposal, which would have involved significant changes to how FIFA manages the tournament, faced substantial opposition within the organization's governance structure. The decision to restrict document access to Zurich viewings represents a compromise position that allows transparency while maintaining control over the sensitive materials.

FIFA Council members will be unable to remove copies or take the documents outside the designated viewing facility. The arrangement comes as the organization continues to navigate heightened scrutiny over governance practices and financial decision-making related to its flagship tournament.

The restricted access protocol reflects ongoing tensions within FIFA's leadership over the organization's direction and commercial strategy. The council's review of these documents signals continued debate over how the World Cup should be structured and managed in coming years.