Football
FIFA’s proposed investment plan to create a new commercial enterprise that seeks outside funding in exchange for a minority stake has been vehemently opposed by various factions in and around football.
Now, Gianni Infantino’s concoction has its first true adversary.
UEFA, the European football confederation, has issued a threat to boycott any and all FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, as long as this plan remains under consideration.
The Sporting News details how UEFA is opposing the plan, and what affects this may have on FIFA’s attempts to enrich itself using the beautiful game.
MORE: All the details about Gianni Infantino’s plan to spin off World Cup investment shares
UEFA nations to boycott men’s and women’s World Cup
After an emergency meeting of all 55 UEFA member nations on July 30, the European governing body announced it would not participate in any FIFA competition as long as Infantino’s proposed investment plan was tabled.
«UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one,» said UEFA in a statement released jointly by all member nations. «We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.»
The statement confirmed that until FIFA contractually agrees to withdraw from this proposal and never to revive it at any time, UEFA nations would not participate in any of its tournaments.
«As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,» the statement said.
«Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination.
«There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise. This is one of those moments.
«Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.»
Why are UEFA nations threatening a World Cup boycott?
While FIFA framed its proposed plan as an attempt to inject more cash into soccer development around the world, it was received by many entities throughout global football as an effort to enrich the individuals in positions of power both within and outside the game.
Many opposing statements, including UEFA’s, indicated that football was «not for FIFA to sell» and that outside financing would likely bring with it outside influence and interests, which would be contrary to the interests of the game.
«The FIFA Forward Enterprise project further highlights the conflict of interest between FIFA’s role as the regulator of world football and as the commercial organiser of major international competitions,» wrote the World Leagues Association in a statement, which was endorsed by the Premier League, who is a member of the 45-member association based in Zurich where FIFA is also headquartered.
What is FIFA’s private investment plan?
FIFA is selling a «significant minority stake» to investors via a proposed new commercial enterprise, which will have direct access to the inner workings of football’s most famous and globally recognised tournament.
This commercial vehicle will be known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), created by FIFA as a «controlled subsidiary consolidating FIFA’s commercial and event operations» according to the governing body’s official release.
According to a report by Martyn Ziegler of The Times, the stake to be sold will be around 20%, with investors including banking titans JP Morgan, tech investor Joshua Kushner, and others. The entity will be valued at around $20 billion.
According to FIFA’s release on the topic, FFE could generate an incredible amount of money for the member institutions. They claim it would provide $20 million per member association in immediate funding, plus another $20 million per member for the coming World Cup cycle, with the potential for even more revenue growth. As a designated non-profit organisation, FIFA passes profits to its member associations.
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A BBC report on July 29 corroborated the claim of the combined $40m to each of FIFA’s 211 members and added that Infantino has set a September 19 deadline for federations to accept his plans. In a five-page letter sent to FIFA members, federations were told the initial $20m will be available from January 1, 2027 if they respond positively by the September deadline.
What has FIFA said?
FIFA responded in the early hours of July 31 with a statement on social media.
In it, the governing body said it acknowledged «feedback and concern aired in public» and blamed «incorrect media reports» for disrupting the intended consultation process. It did not state which elements of coverage it considered unfair or inaccurate.
FIFA also insisted it would proceed with planned consultations of member associations despite the outcry, saying: «Everyone has the right to express their opposition and to seek further clarification but no single entity can claim to represent all 211 MAs around the world. Each MA should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future. These are the democratic principles of FIFA.»
It added: «Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain.»
Earlier on July 30, it posted an explainer on social media responding to some of the more prominent concerns around its investment plan.
It insisted that the proposals will not proceed without majority support from member associations and reiterated that «the FIFA World Cup is not for sale, and nor is any part of FIFA’s governance of the game.»
When are the next men’s and women’s World Cups?
The next men’s World Cup will not be for another four years, as the 2030 tournament is hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco with guest hosting duties by Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
It would evidently be awkward for UEFA members Spain and Portugal to host a tournament they are also boycotting.
With the 2026 tournament having just concluded, there is a long lead-up time to the next edition of the men’s World Cup. Because of this, UEFA knew that threatening to boycott a tournament four years in the future wouldn’t carry as much weight as it normally would — although it should be pointed out that qualifying for the tournament begins next year.
Therefore, while it’s unfortunate that the women’s game would get caught up in a debate mostly involving profits from the men’s tournament, UEFA knew that it would increase the leverage significantly by threatening to boycott the next Women’s World Cup, which is to be hosted in Brazil next summer.
More pressingly, UEFA playoffs for the tournament will take place in October this year. Reigning European champions England, who reached the final of the last Women’s World Cup, are due to be involved.
CONCACAF nations also to hold emergency meeting
Following UEFA’s statement, CONCACAF reportedly also decided to convene all 41 member nations for an emergency meeting to discuss their response to FIFA’s proposal, according to Adam Crafton of The Athletic.
Previously, the North and Central American confederation had also released a statement expressing concern for Infantino’s FIFA Forward Enterprise plan. However, this statement did little to condemn the substance of the plan, instead mostly expressing concern for the process by which it was compiled.
«CONCACAF was only made aware of this matter through media reports and, subsequently, via a media release,» the governing body said on July 29. «We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process.
«We share the disappointment of many within our region and the game that this level of detail has been designed and shared publicly before any discussion with the relevant governance bodies and stakeholders has taken place.»
It’s unclear if CONCACAF is also tabling the possibility of a boycott at its meeting today.
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