European nations are discussing boycotting the World Cup if Gianni Infantino pushes ahead with plans to sell off part of FIFA to private investors, Sky News reports.
UEFA nations will hold an emergency meeting virtually this week to discuss their opposition to FIFA’s attempt to launch a new commercial company with external investment, a source said.
It was only after UEFA went public with concerns about plans it was hearing that FIFA confirmed its president Infantino wants to launch a subsidiary worth $20bn (£15bn) and sell off more than 20% of the new FIFA Forward Enterprise by raising $4.2bn (£3.16bn).
It’s understood the Football Association was completely unaware of the plans before Tuesday’s rushed announcement by FIFA.
FIFA did not raise the landmark strategy during meetings with football associations in New York on the eve of the World Cup final.
The plans and way they have emerged provoked renewed fury within UEFA at how Infantino is running FIFA.
European football’s governing body said in a statement: “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.
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“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.”
We understand that there is a willingness for European nations to use the ultimate threat of boycotting the World Cup if Infantino does not back down.
The next World Cup is the women’s tournament in Brazil next year.
In 2021, FIFA did drop a bid to stage the World Cup every two years when UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said European nations would not participate.
It was only last month that FIFA was accused by UEFA during the World Cup of damaging the integrity of football by lifting the immediate suspension of USA striker Folarin Balogun following direct pleas from US President Donald Trump.
Ceferin then snubbed the World Cup final, having attended the opening match.
But in 2025, UEFA accused Infantino of prioritising “private political interests” when he turned up late for his own FIFA Congress to join Trump’s Gulf tour.
While FIFA is working with JPMorgan, there are also Trump links to Infantino’s plans for FIFA Forward Enterprise.
FIFA confirmed that the lead investor group is proposed to be Thrive Eternal. Its CEO is Josh Kushner, whose brother, Jared, is Trump’s son-in-law.
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