European football nations are considering a boycott of the FIFA World Cup in response to a leaked proposal by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to sell stakes in the competition to private investors. The plan, which could establish a new company valued at approximately £15 billion, has drawn sharp criticism from UEFA, the continent's football governing body.
According to reports, Infantino could assume a highly lucrative role as commissioner of this new entity after his FIFA term concludes in 2031, with potential earnings estimated at over $50 million annually. JPMorgan is reportedly managing the financial process, and the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump has been consulted.
The proposal has been met with widespread condemnation within the football community. One source described the plan as a "nuclear bomb" for the sport, while another suggested it could be "much worse than the European Super League."
UEFA members are scheduled to hold an emergency meeting to discuss potential opposition, including the possibility of withdrawing from the World Cup. This action could impact major footballing nations like World Cup holders Spain, as well as semi-finalists England and France.
The English Football Association stated it was unaware of the proposal before its public release. UEFA released a strong statement condemning the plans, asserting that they "crossed a line that football's governing institutions should never cross." The organization emphasized that "the soul and governance of football are not assets to trade - especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially."
A potential boycott could occur as early as the Women's World Cup scheduled for Brazil in the summer of the following year. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin previously made it clear that European nations would not participate in a World Cup held every two years instead of the traditional four-year cycle, indicating UEFA's potential leverage.
Infantino, in defense of the proposal, stated that the next phase of growth requires a structure where the commercial side operates as a dedicated business, with its value shared globally. He suggested that FIFA Member Associations should have the opportunity to seek fair funding to shape their own futures, describing it as a "democratisation of football worldwide."
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter criticized the reported plan, linking the FIFA President's relationship with the U.S. President to a "financial dimension that is deeply damaging football." Prime Minister Andy Burnham also voiced his opposition, stating, "No one has the right to sell our game." He added, "The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone's to sell."
If implemented, the move could significantly affect the global football calendar, potentially leading to expansions or more frequent staging of the Men's and Women's World Cups, as well as changes to the Club World Cup.
The proposal outlines that all 211 FIFA member associations would hold stakes in the new company, making up 20% of the total value and potentially worth around $20 million each. Member associations would have the option to sell these stakes to raise funds. FIFA would retain a majority stake, with private investors holding minority stakes.
FIFA, a not-for-profit organization with tax-free status at its headquarters in Switzerland, anticipates revenue of approximately $15 billion for the 2022-2026 cycle. The Times reported that potential investors, including Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, have been involved in discussions, with some reportedly expressing interest in "buying FIFA."
Reports suggest Infantino's potential new role could be extremely lucrative, drawing parallels to the NFL commissioner's annual earnings. These reports emerge amid existing scrutiny of Infantino related to issues such as U.S. visa restrictions for fans and officials, high ticket prices, and his association with Trump.
FIFA confirmed plans to launch a "controlled subsidiary consolidating FIFA's commercial and event operations" called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). They stated FIFA would retain sole control of FFE and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, and all sporting decisions, claiming the move would increase funding for member associations.