Is a World Cup boycott brewing? Europe against Infantino's plans

European nations are considering boycotting the World Cup if FIFA president Gianni Infantino insists on selling a stake in the organization’s commercial assets to private investors. As revealed by Sky News, UEFA will hold an emergency meeting this week to coordinate a firm response.

A billion-dollar deal under scrutiny

The controversy erupted after FIFA’s plan to create the subsidiary FIFA Forward Enterprise, valued at $20 billion, became known. The goal is to sell more than 20% to outside investors in order to raise $4.2 billion. Among the investor groups, Thrive Eternal stands out, led by Josh Kushner, who is linked to Donald Trump’s family.

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European nations ready to boycott the World Cup in opposition to Infantino's plan to sell off part of FIFA to private investors - with an emergency meeting of UEFA nations planned this week, Sky News has learnt – Tuesday, 28 July 2026

Outrage at UEFA and a firm stance

UEFA’s leadership reacted forcefully through an official statement:

"This crosses a line that institutions should never cross. The essence and governance of football are not marketable assets. Football does not belong to FIFA to put up for sale."

Although Infantino defends the move by promising to increase development funding for member associations from $8 million to $20 million, European countries are considering using the threat of withdrawal as leverage. UEFA is confident that its sporting weight will prove decisive in stopping the project, repeating the strategy with which it already halted the biennial World Cup plan.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 ODD ANDERSEN - AFP or licensors

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