Breaking news. UEFA announces boycott of future FIFA World Cups over investment plan
UEFA says the World Cup "cannot be treated as an investment product" and has threatened to pull its national teams from FIFA competitions unless the proposal is permanently withdrawn.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced on Thursday that it would boycott future men's and women's World Cups in response to FIFA President Gianni Infantino's plan to allow private investment in its competitions.
In a statement issued after an emergency meeting of its 55 member associations, UEFA "unanimously and unequivocally" rejected FIFA’s proposal to launch a new World Cup spin-off. The plan involves selling stakes of up to 20% to external investors, including Joshua Kushner, whose brother Jared is US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
The World Cup "cannot be treated as an investment product," the statement said.
Without Europe's participation, Infantino's venture would become far less attractive, both competitively and commercially as Europeans dominate the competition. Three of the four teams to reach the semi-finals were European: France, England and winner Spain.
During the meeting, representatives of more than 40 football associations took the floor to describe the plan as unacceptable, with all of them agreeing to a boycott, sources familiar with the matter told Euronews.
"National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football's greatest competitions or bear the consequences," the statement said.
UEFA added that no national team from its member associations would take part in any FIFA competition "for so long as these proposals remain alive", unless FIFA abandons the plan in its entirety and provides binding assurances that it will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.
The next men's World Cup will be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco in 2030, while the next women's World Cup will take place in Brazil in 2027.
UEFA believes that under Infantino's proposal, commercial pressure from investors would spill over into sporting decisions, leading to an unprecedented change in the world of football.
"Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return," the statement reads.
EU Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef welcomed the decision, writing on social media after the boycott was announced: "Proud to see Europe’s football associations leading on governance, standing firm on their principles and defending the integrity of the game."
Infantino's plan on the ropes
In theory, Infantino's plan could still be approved even if the European associations reject it. The proposal requires the backing of a majority of FIFA members, as well as the FIFA Council, the governing body's 37-member decision-making panel chaired by the president.
FIFA's voting system gives each national association one vote, regardless of its size, wealth or football tradition. That means the European associations could be outvoted if the other confederations back the plan.
However, a coordinated European withdrawal from the World Cup would have major consequences for players, broadcasters and sponsors, making the tournament considerably less appealing to global audiences.
UEFA is FIFA’s most influential confederation, both politically and financially, and its 55 member associations represent more than a quarter of FIFA’s 211 members.
European national teams are arguably the most valuable asset for FIFA, having won 13 of the 23 men's World Cups and four of the nine women's World Cups so far.
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) is holding an emergency meeting on Thursday evening and could follow UEFA's lead.
FIFA's plan to sell World Cup to private investors has not been well received - but can they pull it off?
Copyright AP Photo
Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in FIFA’s commercial operations to private investors faces fierce opposition from UEFA, which could potentially have enough votes to block the proposal.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed creating a new commercial subsidiary that would allow private investors to buy minority stakes in the business generated by the World Cup and FIFA's other competitions.
The proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) would put FIFA's commercial and event operations under a separate company while FIFA retained majority control. FIFA says the plan could unlock more than $10 billion (€8.7bn) for football development.
But Europe's members, led by UEFA, have reacted furiously, saying "the soul and governance of football are not assets to trade", while also complaining about a lack of consultation.
It has called an emergency meeting of its 55 national associations to coordinate its response, with the Asian and North American confederations also raising concerns.
FIFA's headquarters are in Zurich, Switzerland. AP Photo
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed creating a new commercial subsidiary that would allow private investors to buy minority stakes in the business generated by the World Cup and FIFA's other competitions.
The proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) would put FIFA's commercial and event operations under a separate company while FIFA retained majority control. FIFA says the plan could unlock more than $10 billion (€8.7bn) for football development.
But Europe's members, led by UEFA, have reacted furiously, saying "the soul and governance of football are not assets to trade", while also complaining about a lack of consultation.
It has called an emergency meeting of its 55 national associations to coordinate its response, with the Asian and North American confederations also raising concerns.
What does Infantino need to gain FIFA approval?
FIFA is not a conventional company with shareholders. It is an association governed by Swiss law, headquartered in Zurich and ultimately controlled through its 211 national member associations, referred to as the FIFA Congress.
FFE would represent a significant change because it proposes transferring FIFA's commercial and event operations into a subsidiary in which private investors could acquire minority stakes.
Although Article 12 of FIFA's July 2026 Governance Regulations shows that simply creating a subsidiary does not necessarily require a majority of the Congress to agree, Infantino has confirmed the FFE proposal will be subject to approval by FIFA's members.
For most decisions, the FIFA Congress can act by a simple majority of more than 50% of valid votes cast. But if implementing FFE requires an amendment to FIFA's Statutes, the threshold is significantly higher.
For Congress to vote on a Statutes amendment, more than half of FIFA's associations entitled to vote must be represented. Once that has been reached, the amendment requires the support of 75% of the associations.
That distinction could prove crucial to whether Infantino can get his proposal through.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin did not attend the World Cup final in the US in protest over recent FIFA decisions. FILE AP Photo
FIFA is not a conventional company with shareholders. It is an association governed by Swiss law, headquartered in Zurich and ultimately controlled through its 211 national member associations, referred to as the FIFA Congress.
FFE would represent a significant change because it proposes transferring FIFA's commercial and event operations into a subsidiary in which private investors could acquire minority stakes.
Although Article 12 of FIFA's July 2026 Governance Regulations shows that simply creating a subsidiary does not necessarily require a majority of the Congress to agree, Infantino has confirmed the FFE proposal will be subject to approval by FIFA's members.
For most decisions, the FIFA Congress can act by a simple majority of more than 50% of valid votes cast. But if implementing FFE requires an amendment to FIFA's Statutes, the threshold is significantly higher.
For Congress to vote on a Statutes amendment, more than half of FIFA's associations entitled to vote must be represented. Once that has been reached, the amendment requires the support of 75% of the associations.
That distinction could prove crucial to whether Infantino can get his proposal through.
Can UEFA block the proposal?
Potentially — but it depends on what type of approval FFE requires.
UEFA's 55 members could have considerable power if it can convince FIFA Congress that FFE requires an amendment to FIFA's Statutes.
If all 211 associations attended and were eligible to vote, Infantino would need 159 votes to reach the required three-quarter majority for statute change. If all UEFA members voted against those changes, Infantino could only reach 156 supporters even if every other association backed him.
FIFA's Governance Regulations already give its administration substantial powers to create subsidiaries and the Council-wide authority over strategy and commercial policy.
But if transferring FIFA's commercial operations into a partly privately-owned company requires changes to its Statutes, Infantino faces a much tougher threshold — and UEFA's 55 associations could hold enough votes to stop him.
Potentially — but it depends on what type of approval FFE requires.
UEFA's 55 members could have considerable power if it can convince FIFA Congress that FFE requires an amendment to FIFA's Statutes.
If all 211 associations attended and were eligible to vote, Infantino would need 159 votes to reach the required three-quarter majority for statute change. If all UEFA members voted against those changes, Infantino could only reach 156 supporters even if every other association backed him.
FIFA's Governance Regulations already give its administration substantial powers to create subsidiaries and the Council-wide authority over strategy and commercial policy.
But if transferring FIFA's commercial operations into a partly privately-owned company requires changes to its Statutes, Infantino faces a much tougher threshold — and UEFA's 55 associations could hold enough votes to stop him.
When will a decision be made?
FIFA announced on Thursday that a consultation process was launched on 28 July 2026 and will share further details with member associations and the FIFA Council.
Infantino has given member associations until 19 September to decide whether they support the proposal, telling them in a letter: "The decision on whether or not to proceed with this proposal belongs entirely to you**."**
FIFA says the plan must be approved through a democratic vote of its members and also requires approval from the FIFA Council.
However, no Congress or Council meeting has yet been announced to formally approve the plan.
The next Congress meeting will be in 2027 unless an extraordinary meeting is called.
The Council is due to meet again before the end of 2026, but no date has been made public.
FIFA announced on Thursday that a consultation process was launched on 28 July 2026 and will share further details with member associations and the FIFA Council.
Infantino has given member associations until 19 September to decide whether they support the proposal, telling them in a letter: "The decision on whether or not to proceed with this proposal belongs entirely to you**."**
FIFA says the plan must be approved through a democratic vote of its members and also requires approval from the FIFA Council.
However, no Congress or Council meeting has yet been announced to formally approve the plan.
The next Congress meeting will be in 2027 unless an extraordinary meeting is called.
The Council is due to meet again before the end of 2026, but no date has been made public.
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