UEFA has unanimously decided to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, if FIFA proceeds with its plan to involve private investors holding shares in the organization of various tournaments.
On Thursday, 30 Jul 2026 GMT+7, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) along with its 55 member countries unanimously voted to boycott all competitions organized by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), including the men's and women's World Cups and the Club World Cup, should FIFA continue to push its plan to sell shares of its competitions to private investors.
According to FIFA President Gianni Infantino's plan, he intends to establish a subsidiary company called Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) to manage FIFA's main competitions, including the World Cup, and to allow external investors to purchase minority stakes.
It is expected that Thrive Eterna, a U.S.-based investment consortium founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner and son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, will lead the group of investors.
Infantino is attempting to secure member support for his plan by offering a $40 million subsidy to FIFA's 211 member countries that vote in favor, with a deadline of 19 September for the first $20 million installment.
However, FIFA's plan faces strong opposition, especially from UEFA, which argues that the World Cup is a sporting heritage built over many generations, not an "investment product," and should not be handed over to private ownership.
UEFA criticized FIFA for secretly planning this without consultation, calling it a leadership failure and an abuse of power rather than a democratic process.
The English Football Association (FA) and the Scottish Football Association have expressed support for UEFA and opposition to Infantino's plan.
Although UEFA holds only about one quarter of FIFA's total voting power (55 out of 211 votes), Europe is home to nearly all of football's powerhouses and has won the most World Cup titles—13 out of 23. Thus, if UEFA proceeds with a boycott, it would severely affect the quality and image of the World Cup.
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Source:BBC