UEFA’s 55 member associations voted unanimously Thursday to boycott every FIFA competition, including the World Cup, in response to president Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the tournament to private investors. Hours later, Concacaf issued its own statement criticizing the same proposal, though it stopped short of threatening a boycott of its own.
The FIFA World Cup Boycott Takes Shape
According to UEFA’s statement, the confederation unanimously rejected any transfer of ownership interests in the World Cup or other FIFA competitions to outside investors. UEFA called the tournament one of football’s greatest legacies, built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent, and it insisted no part of that legacy should ever be sold off. Consequently, UEFA said it will not lift the boycott until the proposal is fully abandoned and FIFA gives binding assurances it will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.
Under Infantino’s plan, FIFA would create a new commercial subsidiary, reportedly valued near $20 billion, with roughly a fifth of it owned by private investors including Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner. Infantino would reportedly run the new entity once his FIFA presidency ends in 2031, drawing a salary similar to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s, who earns close to $64 million annually. Additionally, UEFA called the plan “irresponsible and indefensible,” arguing it was negotiated in secret and nearly approved without meaningful consultation among the game’s other stakeholders.
Concacaf Joins the FIFA World Cup Boycott Debate
Meanwhile, Concacaf held its own emergency meeting Thursday and afterward said its 41 members shared “deep concerns” about the proposal’s lack of due process, its artificially short deadline, and the absence of any review by FIFA’s own governance bodies. As a result, Concacaf rejected the plan outright, though its statement instead asked FIFA Council members to keep negotiating over development funding rather than announcing a formal boycott of FIFA-run events. Both confederations now leave Infantino facing significant resistance well before any vote on the proposal takes place.
