UEFA Members Unite Against Proposed World Cup Sale, Vowing Boycott if Deal Falls Through
In a historic and unprecedented move, European football’s governing body, UEFA, has unanimously voted to boycott FIFA events – including the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup – in protest against Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the tournament. The decision comes after an urgent online meeting of its 55 member federations, where they collectively expressed their opposition to the proposal.
The vote was a significant escalation of the controversy surrounding Infantino’s bid to spin off UEFA’s commercial operations into a $20 billion entity, with 20 percent owned by private investors. This plan has been met with fierce resistance from football authorities around the world, who argue that it undermines the sport’s existing governance structure and erodes its integrity.
The core investor behind this proposal is New York venture capital investment firm created by Joshua Kushner. According to UEFA, “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.”
UEFA’s stance is clear: the World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies, built over generations by players, national teams, and supporters across every continent. The organization has long maintained that the tournament should remain a public good, controlled by its member associations rather than private investors.
The proposed sale has sparked widespread outrage among FIFA officials, who have been accused of lacking consultation with football authorities around the world. Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa described Infantino’s plan as “totally unacceptable,” stating that it undermined the sport’s existing continental structure.
FIFA has not yet commented on UEFA’s decision, but sources close to the organization indicate that they are likely to take a strong stance against the proposed sale. The next FIFA competition is scheduled for Europe, where the Women’s Under-20 World Cup will be held from September 5.
This development marks a significant escalation of the controversy surrounding Infantino’s bid to sell stakes in the World Cup. As one UEFA official noted, “The decision by our member federations reflects the widespread concern and opposition to this proposal.”
Source: Al Jazeera
Based on reporting from Al Jazeera.
