UEFA, the governing body for European soccer, is poised to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA-organized competitions. This action is a protest against a proposed $20 billion commercialization plan that would involve a Wall Street-style takeover of global soccer, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The boycott is expected to be formally approved during emergency talks scheduled for Thursday in Switzerland. If enacted, European nations would withdraw from "all FIFA competitions" organized by the Zurich-based nonprofit. This move could plunge FIFA into its most significant crisis in its 122-year history.
The potential boycott means the 2030 World Cup could proceed without major footballing nations such as England, France, Spain, and Germany, who have collectively dominated the tournament in recent decades. The absence of these teams and their associated television markets would severely impact the World Cup's global appeal and financial viability, potentially derailing FIFA President Gianni Infantino's multibillion-dollar proposal.
The boycott would encompass the men's and women's World Cups, youth championships, and the expanded Club World Cup. However, European teams would continue to participate in regional tournaments organized by UEFA, including the Champions League and the European Championship.
Infantino's plan involves consolidating the World Cup's broadcasting, ticketing, and sponsorship rights into a new private subsidiary named FIFA Forward Enterprise. This initiative has drawn significant criticism from European officials who view it as an aggressive commercialization of the sport. The proposal also reportedly involves a private equity group with ties to President Trump's in-laws, the Kushner family.
American venture capital firm Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, is expected to lead an investor group and acquire a 20% stake in the venture for over $4.2 billion. U.S. banking giant JPMorgan is reportedly providing advisory services for the deal, which requires approval from FIFA's 211 member nations.
European soccer officials have expressed strong opposition to Infantino's close alignment with the Trump administration amid these proposed changes. One source indicated that UEFA is confident of securing a "landslide majority" of "more than 50 countries" to vote against Infantino's plans. Some reports suggest the opposition could be even broader.
The controversy has intensified due to recent events, including President Trump's admission of directly calling Infantino to successfully overturn a red card suspension for American striker Folarin Balogun during a World Cup match. This intervention drew sharp condemnation from European officials.
In an effort to garner support, Infantino has promised increased development payouts for smaller federations, raising the amount from $8 million to $20 million through 2030. He has framed this as the "democratization" of soccer, but critics view it as a means to secure backing for his commercialization strategy.
The proposed corporatization of football has also faced backlash from European politicians. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that "Football does not belong to investors" and that the World Cup is "not a product." EU Sports Commissioner Glen Micallef commented on the "relentless commercialization of football" becoming "corrosive."
European soccer associations have cited concerns over "lack of process and governance" within FIFA. Hans-Joachim Watzke, vice-president of Germany's soccer association, described the private equity play as an "outright attack on football."
This is not the first time Infantino has faced significant pushback from European nations regarding private investment. In 2018, a $25 billion deal involving a consortium and Japan's SoftBank for a revamped Club World Cup and a new global Nations League was abandoned due to intense opposition from UEFA.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to be primarily hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with initial matches in South America to commemorate the tournament's centenary. The most recent World Cup took place in 2026, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.