UEFA, representing 55 European football associations, has declared it will boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, if FIFA proceeds with plans to sell off the tournament's commercial rights to private investors. Concacaf, with 41 member associations, has also rejected the proposal.
UEFA issued a statement calling the World Cup "not for sale" and accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino of "governance by intimidation" and a "profound failure of leadership." The federation described Infantino's attempts to secure approximately £3.1 billion in private investment without consultation as "irresponsible" and "indefensible."
Infantino's plans have faced widespread opposition, including from former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who called the proposal "deeply damaging" to the sport. Despite the backlash, Infantino intends to stand for re-election as FIFA president at the congress in Morocco in March 2027.
UEFA's stance, agreed unanimously and co-signed by the English FA and other European associations, signals a significant challenge to Infantino's leadership. The federation has called for the plans to be discarded, comparing the situation to the failed European Super League project launched by club executives in 2021.
UEFA's 55 members, including newly crowned world champions Spain, vowed to boycott the World Cup should FIFA's plans go ahead.
Sources suggest Infantino may attempt to retain his position by securing the support of smaller federations in opposition to UEFA. The article criticizes Infantino's past decisions, including commercially driven hydration breaks during the recent World Cup and the suspension of a player's red card at the alleged behest of then-U.S. President Donald Trump.