Sports
Gianni Infantino nixes unpopular proposal to sell stakes in World Cup
July 19, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.; U.S. President Donald Trump (left) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the trophy presentation following the FIFA World Cup Final at New York New Jersey Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images FIFA president Gianni Infantino has scrapped his controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Facing backlash throughout the sport, a World Cup boycott from Europe and criticism from high-ranking officials inside FIFA itself, Infantino said the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise project “will not proceed.”
The news came Friday night with the governing body releasing a statement “attributable to the FIFA President.”
“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 support is most needed,” the statement read. “And more so, as we said from the outset, to do this only if a majority of the FIFA Member Associations were in support and always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA Council, the Confederations and wider stakeholders.
“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.
“Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve.
“As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”
The statement ended with Infantino saying he plans to “bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks” with the goal of discussing ways to grow the sport of soccer globally.
Infantino’s concession concluded a tumultuous week. The proposal was introduced just Tuesday, with FIFA projecting tens of billions in new investment by bringing together its commercial rights — encompassing broadcast, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing — under a new commercial venture and selling stakes in that venture to private equity.
Infantino had defended his plan as beneficial for member nations that could access increased development money. FIFA also argued that outside investors wouldn’t have an operational role in the tournament and would invest in a subsidiary rather than FIFA itself.
That didn’t soften what many saw as an attempt to hand minority ownership in the world’s biggest tournament to private investors with their own aims.
Member nations of UEFA (Europe’s governing body) voted to boycott World Cups moving forward if the plan went through. Members of CONCACAF, representing North America, Central America and the Caribbean, also “unequivocally” rejected the proposition.
Carlos Cordeiro, the senior adviser to Infantino for the past five years, resigned earlier Friday in protest of the FIFA Forward Enterprise plans. Cordeiro, 70, is the former president of U.S. Soccer (2018-20) and a Goldman Sachs banker before that.
“Let me be clear: I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally. It is a bad deal for FIFA’s Member Associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game,” Cordeiro wrote in a lengthy statement concerning his resignation.
“Football has been central to my life, and after more than 35 years in banking, I understand both the value of this asset and the consequences of giving part of it away. That is why this proposal should be rejected.”
Cordeiro pointed out that FIFA “sits on billions of dollars in reserves” and carries no debt as an organization.
“If Member Associations believe additional investment is needed to develop the game, FIFA already has the financial capacity to provide that support from its existing resources,” Cordeiro said. “Against that backdrop, selling a permanent stake in football’s most valuable asset to raise $4.2 billion makes little sense. It is mortgaging football’s future without any compelling justification.”
Meanwhile, the chief operating officer of FIFA also blasted Infantino’s desire to introduce private investors into the tournament’s financing, calling it “the project of one person.”
Kevin Lamour said in a statement to the Associated Press that staff inside FIFA felt “deceived” by Infantino and the opaque nature of the process, adding they “deserve better than contempt and intimidation.”
“It is the project of one person,” Lamour wrote. “Not only must this project not go ahead … but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.”
The Frenchman went on to add, “And if that means I lose my job then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”
Lamour campaigned for Infantino in the 2016 FIFA presidential election.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Goldeneyes move Cara Gardner Morey from GM to head coach
A general view of hockey sticks. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images The Vancouver Goldeneyes are moving Cara Gardner Morey to head coach after serving as general manager during their inaugural PWHL season in 2025-26.
Gardner Morey, 47, previously served as head coach of the women’s ice hockey team at Princeton from 2017-25.
“I’m excited to return to coaching,” she said in a news release on Thursday. “Over the course of the offseason, I spent a lot of time reflecting and discussing what was best for our team and for me personally. Through that process, I realized how much I missed being behind the bench.
“While I continue to be incredibly proud of what we built in Vancouver during our inaugural season, coaching is where I know I can make the biggest impact. To have the opportunity to coach the roster we’ve assembled is an incredible privilege, and I can’t wait for us to take the ice later this year.”
Coach Cara ??
°The Vancouver Goldeneyes announced today that Cara Gardner Morey has been named Head Coach after serving as the team’s General Manager during its inaugural season.
°A search for the team’s next General Manager will begin now.
Details: https://t.co/urKPuV7R3B pic.twitter.com/JeymVedqjx
— Vancouver Goldeneyes (@PWHL__Vancouver) July 30, 2026
Gardner Morey helped Princeton win an Ivy League title and capture its first ECAC Tournament championship during her time with the Tigers.
Under previous head coach Brian Idalski, the Goldeneyes finished in sixth place in the PWHL standings during their debut season with 37 points. Idalski is now the head coach of the women’s team at Syracuse.
The league will lead the search for Vancouver’s next general manager.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Zach Johnson grabs first-round lead at Portugal Invitational
Zach Johnson participates in the trophy presentation after winning the Kaulig Companies PGA Championship Final Round, July 12, 2026, at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. PGA Tour Champions rookie Zach Johnson carded an 8-under-par 64 on Friday to take the first-round lead at the Portugal Invitational in Algarve.
Johnson posted nine birdies and one bogey at The Els Club Vilamoura to build a one-shot lead against Slovakia’s Rory Sabbatini, who is in solo second place after a bogey-free round with seven birdies.
Alex Cejka of Germany, Charlie Wi of South Korea, Padraig Harrington of Ireland and Mikael Lundberg of Sweden are tied for third place at 6-under-par, with six golfers another shot behind in a tie for seventh place.
Johnson, 50, already has won three times on the senior tour this season, including two of his last three tournaments at the Principal Charity Classic and Kaulig Companies Championship. He finished T7 at last week’s Senior Open.
“I would argue it’s the best tour in the world,” he said. “I’m enjoying it. I would love to have my family out more, but I know my wife’s enjoying it as well. She likes to watch golf and take a nap, so that works out well.”
Johnson opened with birdies at the first three holes, suffered his only bogey at the par-4 13th hole and grabbed the clubhouse lead with another birdie at the par-4 18th. He birdied all five par-5s on the course.
“It was just solid,” Johnson said. “There were very few stressful situations. I hit an errant tee shot on 13, just complete brain meltdown, just lack of focus on the tee shot, and it cost me a bogey. But other than that, it was a very simple day.”
Sabbatini started on the back nine and also played the par-5 holes in 5-under.
“The par-5s are scoring opportunities but you still have to be very cautious because if you try and be overly aggressive on them, they tend to bite you pretty hard,” Sabbatini said. “So you’ve got to try and remain within yourself on those holes and give yourself opportunities, but be prepared that if you try and take off a little bit more than you should, it’s probably going to result in either a par if you’re lucky and sometimes some bogeys.”
This is the first PGA Tour Champions tournament ever held on Portuguese soil.
Sixty-four of the 78 golfers shot even par or better on Friday. In addition to Harrington, the field includes World Golf Hall of Famers Retief Goosen, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tigers scratch RHP Casey Mize with trade deadline looming
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize (12) pitches in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images The Detroit Tigers scratched right-hander Casey Mize with a non-injury designation ahead of Friday’s game against the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.
Mize, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, may be joining two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal in departing Detroit ahead of Monday’s trade deadline. Both become free agents at the end of this season.
“There’s a lot of unknown with what the next (few) days are going to bring,” Mize said Wednesday. “I’m just as curious as anybody. It’s all around us, can’t really avoid it. We’ll see. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m aware. (Last Saturday) could’ve been my last home start.”
Mize, 29, has battled a nagging groin issue all season and made a pair of stints on the injured list.
He owns a 4-6 record with a 2.70 ERA in 16 starts this season.
The Tigers, who did not announce a replacement for Mize on Friday, are seven games below .500 and rank among the American League’s biggest disappointments as the trade deadline nears.
Detroit was part of the playoff field the past two seasons but enter Friday’s play 4 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Guardians, who hold the AL’s third wild-card spot. Four teams stand between the Guardians and Tigers, with the Toronto Blue Jays just one game worse than Detroit.
–Field Level Media
Goldeneyes move Cara Gardner Morey from GM to head coach
Zach Johnson grabs first-round lead at Portugal Invitational
