UEFA maintains its World Cup boycott following FIFA crisis
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced Thursday that its boycott of FIFA competitions, including the World Cups, remains in effect despite FIFA’s decision to abandon its plan to open up to outside investors.
Issued on: 06/08/2026
By: FRANCE 24
'There's no turning back': UEFA stands by boycott despite Infantino's apologyThe Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced Thursday that its boycott of FIFA competitions, including the World Cups, remains in effect despite FIFA’s decision to abandon its plan to open up to outside investors.
Issued on: 06/08/2026
By: FRANCE 24
A silhouette depicting FIFA President Gianni Infantino is seen next to a UEFA logo in this illustration taken July 30, 2026. © Dado Ruvic, Reuters
European soccer's governing body has retained its threat to boycott FIFA competitions despite FIFA apologising for its failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.
UEFA on Thursday reiterated that it had lost confidence in FIFA president Gianni Infantino and said conditions to withdraw its boycott threat had not been met.
“UEFA’s associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non participation in FIFA competitions," it said in a statement.
"First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.
“These conditions have not been met. In addition, UEFA made it abundantly clear in it’s statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. That position holds.”
FIFA and Infantino tried to present a united front following a high-level summit in Morocco on Wednesday when it announced the president had the full support of top staff in attendance.
The world governing body also apologised for errors made over it's controversial plan to sell profits in the World Cup through a commercial subsidiary and committed to “ensure they do not happen again.”
FIFA said it hoped its meeting would “help restore confidence” in the organisation after the turbulence created by Infantino’s now abandoned project, which provoked widespread condemnation.
UEFA voted to abandon FIFA competitions if it went ahead. And even after Infantino’s hasty climbdown, Europe’s governing body said it had lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership – paving the way for a challenge to his presidency.
In its defiant statement, UEFA made it clear its position still held.
"Yesterday’s announcement that some people employed by the FIFA president (and whose careers depend on his favour) agree with him changes nothing,” it said.
South American football's governing body CONMEBOL, usually seen as a strong supporter of Infantino, welcomed the withdrawal of FIFA's private investor plan, but expressed "its concern regarding the repeated unilateral actions taken".
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
European soccer's governing body has retained its threat to boycott FIFA competitions despite FIFA apologising for its failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.
UEFA on Thursday reiterated that it had lost confidence in FIFA president Gianni Infantino and said conditions to withdraw its boycott threat had not been met.
“UEFA’s associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non participation in FIFA competitions," it said in a statement.
"First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.
“These conditions have not been met. In addition, UEFA made it abundantly clear in it’s statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. That position holds.”
FIFA and Infantino tried to present a united front following a high-level summit in Morocco on Wednesday when it announced the president had the full support of top staff in attendance.
The world governing body also apologised for errors made over it's controversial plan to sell profits in the World Cup through a commercial subsidiary and committed to “ensure they do not happen again.”
FIFA said it hoped its meeting would “help restore confidence” in the organisation after the turbulence created by Infantino’s now abandoned project, which provoked widespread condemnation.
UEFA voted to abandon FIFA competitions if it went ahead. And even after Infantino’s hasty climbdown, Europe’s governing body said it had lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership – paving the way for a challenge to his presidency.
In its defiant statement, UEFA made it clear its position still held.
"Yesterday’s announcement that some people employed by the FIFA president (and whose careers depend on his favour) agree with him changes nothing,” it said.
South American football's governing body CONMEBOL, usually seen as a strong supporter of Infantino, welcomed the withdrawal of FIFA's private investor plan, but expressed "its concern regarding the repeated unilateral actions taken".
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
Issued on: 07/08/2026 - FRANCE24
UEFA continues to apply pressure on FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign, while the Norwegian federation turn up the heat with 3 separate referrals to the federation's ethics committee. Antonia Kerrigan reports.
Video by: Antonia KERRIGAN
FIFA's institutional tensions: Infantino's failed Forward Entity proposal sparks governance crisis
Issued on: 07/08/2026 - FRANCE24
Alison Sargent is pleased to welcome International Sports Journalist Thando Sibiya.She presents the FIFA governance crisis not as an isolated dispute over a failed commercial proposal, but as the culmination of deeper institutional tensions that have been developing over Gianni Infantino's presidency. Sibiya argues that the proposed sale of a permanent stake in FIFA's commercial rights became a catalyst rather than the root cause of the conflict, exposing longstanding disagreements over governance, legitimacy, commercialisation, and geopolitical influence within world football. By connecting the aborted FIFA Forward Entity proposal with the resignation of a key adviser, UEFA's increasingly confrontational stance, disputes surrounding referee protections, and divergent interests between UEFA and CAF, Sibiya frames the controversy within a broader struggle over who ultimately defines and governs the future of global football.
Video by: Alison SARGENT
Issued on: 07/08/2026 - FRANCE24
Alison Sargent is pleased to welcome International Sports Journalist Thando Sibiya.She presents the FIFA governance crisis not as an isolated dispute over a failed commercial proposal, but as the culmination of deeper institutional tensions that have been developing over Gianni Infantino's presidency. Sibiya argues that the proposed sale of a permanent stake in FIFA's commercial rights became a catalyst rather than the root cause of the conflict, exposing longstanding disagreements over governance, legitimacy, commercialisation, and geopolitical influence within world football. By connecting the aborted FIFA Forward Entity proposal with the resignation of a key adviser, UEFA's increasingly confrontational stance, disputes surrounding referee protections, and divergent interests between UEFA and CAF, Sibiya frames the controversy within a broader struggle over who ultimately defines and governs the future of global football.
Video by: Alison SARGENT
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