Key facts
- UEFA members unanimously voted to boycott all FIFA competitions.
- The boycott is in protest of FIFA's plan to sell stakes in a new subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise.
- UEFA stated the World Cup belongs to football and will never be for sale.
- FIFA's plan involves a new $20 billion subsidiary with 20% private ownership.
- The core investor is a New York firm created by Joshua Kushner.
UEFA members have unanimously voted to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, in protest of FIFA President Gianni Infantino's plan to sell stakes in a new subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise. The European football body stated that the World Cup belongs to football and will never be for sale, expressing concerns that external investors would permanently prioritize commercial returns and create daily pressure.
Infantino's proposal involves spinning off FIFA's commercial operations into a new $20 billion subsidiary, with 20% ownership by private investors, including a firm created by Joshua Kushner. He offered to double the funding for FIFA's 211 global members to $20 million over four years if they approve the plan. UEFA criticized this move, suggesting FIFA should use its reserves for development programs instead of selling stakes.
The boycott, which includes upcoming events like the Women's Under-20 World Cup, could threaten Infantino's presidency, with a vote scheduled for March. UEFA stated that no UEFA national teams will participate in FIFA competitions unless the proposal is abandoned entirely and binding assurances are given against private ownership of FIFA's governance or competitions.