Infantino has served as the President of FIFA since 2016 (Image: Getty)
European nations are discussing a FIFA World Cup boycott amid Gianni Infantino’s plans to sell off part of football’s governing body to private investors.
UEFA, European football’s governing body, comprised of 55 members, will hold an emergency meeting this week to voice its opposition to the plans.
After UEFA publicly expressed concerns about reports it had heard, FIFA confirmed that its president, Infantino, intends to launch a subsidiary valued at $20bn (£15bn) and sell more than 20% of the new FIFA Forward Enterprise by raising $4.2bn (£3.16bn).
It is understood that the Football Association had no prior knowledge of the plans before FIFA’s hastily arranged announcement on Tuesday.
FIFA also did not discuss the landmark proposal during meetings with football associations in New York on the eve of the World Cup final.
Both the substance of the plans and the manner in which they were revealed have sparked renewed anger within UEFA over Infantino’s leadership of FIFA.
The Women’s World Cup will be held in Brazil next year (Image: Getty)
In a statement, European football’s governing body said: “This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross. UEFA takes it extremely seriously.”
“So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game.
“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”
It is understood that European nations are prepared to consider the ultimate step of boycotting the World Cup if Infantino does not reverse course.
The next World Cup on the calendar is the women’s tournament, which will be held in Brazil next year.
In 2021, FIFA abandoned its proposal to hold the World Cup every two years after UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin warned that European nations would refuse to take part.
Just last month, UEFA accused FIFA during the World Cup of damaging the integrity of football. This was due to the lifting of the immediate suspension of USA striker Folarin Balogun following pleas from US President Donald Trump.
Following this, Ceferin snubbed the World Cup final, having attended the opening match.
However, in 2025, UEFA accused Infantino of putting “private political interests” ahead of football after he arrived late to his own FIFA Congress to join Trump’s tour of the Gulf.
Although FIFA is partnering with JPMorgan on the project, Infantino’s plans for FIFA Forward Enterprise also have connections to Trump.
Pleas from Donald Trump led to the lifting of USA striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension (Image: Getty)
FIFA confirmed that the proposed lead investor group is Thrive Eternal, led by CEO Josh Kushner, whose brother, Jared Kushner, is Trump’s son-in-law.
In February, Sky News reported that Infantino promoted plans for a FIFA cryptocurrency during a visit to a private event organised by the Trump family’s business venture, World Liberty Financial.
Responding to UEFA’s criticism on Tuesday, Infantino defended the proposed sell-off by arguing that it would generate additional funding for member associations to invest in football.
This means from 2027 to 2030, they would obtain $20m as opposed to $8m to spend on coaching, national teams, infrastructure, competitions alongside grassroots development.
Infantino said: “Our next stage of growth needs a structure built for it, one where the commercial side of the game operates as a focused, dedicated business, with its value shared more and better all around the world.
“Every FIFA Member Association should have an opportunity to seek a fair share of the available funding to shape its own future, deciding for itself rather than relying on others. This is about the democratisation of football worldwide.”
On X, the prime minister expressed that football “belongs to the fans” not investors.
Andy Burnham added: “The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell. Dress the deal up however you like. Once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out.”
FIFA has not immediately commented on Infantino’s plans to advance or bonuses he could receive. It is understood that he could move into a different role overseeing the World Cup if the spin-off is allowed.
UEFA’s opposition may be weakened by FIFA’s claim that it only needs support from a majority of its 211 member associations, many of which rely on FIFA funding.
However, FIFA still depends on European teams for the World Cup’s success, giving UEFA the leverage to threaten a boycott.