FIFA World Cup: UEFA says it will boycott tournament over $20 billion investor plan
UEFA, the Union of European Football Association, says it will boycott the FIFA World Cup if plans to sell a stake in the tournament go through.
The backstory:
On Tuesday, FIFA president Gianni Infantino's secret proposal was revealed Tuesday to spin off its commercial operations in a new $20 billion subsidiary 20% owned by private investors. The core investor would be a New York investment firm created by Joshua Kushner, the brother of U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
JULY 19: FIFA President Gianni Infantino holds the trophy at full-time following the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Brunskill
Infantino has presented the private equity offer as a chance to "turbocharge" funding development of soccer across the world, where a majority of the 211 FIFA members rely on its funding.
What they're saying:
UEFA released a statement Thursday, saying:
"The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale."
UEFA says none of its 55 teams will participate in any FIFA competition while the proposal remains in play and will not compete until the proposal is abandoned.
The following countries are members of UEFA:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Armenia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- England
- Estonia
- Faroe Islands
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Israel
- Italy
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Northern Ireland
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of Ireland
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Scotland
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Türkiye
- Ukraine
- Wales
What we don't know:
Next year, the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup takes place in Brazil and the stance by UEFA over FIFA's plans to sell minority stakes in the organization could impact the tournament.
The Source: This article includes information from the Union of European Football Association and the Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.