UEFA to be joined in World Cup boycott across globe to leave Gianni Infantino’s controversial plans in disarray
Several other confederations could follow UEFA’s lead and boycott the World Cup, talkSPORT understands.
UEFA was the first to take the bombshell first step following an emergency meeting held remotely on Thursday.
All 55 member nations of UEFA unanimously agreed on the boycott decision.
The FA, who was one of those member nations to voice their opposition towards Infantino’s plans, said via a spokesperson: “We stand shoulder to shoulder with our European colleagues and fully support the collective view.
“We oppose FIFA’s plans – the FIFA World Cup belongs to football and always will.”
And if other confederations take the same actions, Infantino could be left in an untenable position.
UEFA's statement on FIFA boycott in full
UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions.
UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.
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.
It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game. This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football.
National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences. This is not a “democratic decision”, but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.
But our opposition goes far beyond process.
The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure. From that moment onwards, every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders.
This model has no place in world football. Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return. Nor can the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters become subordinate to investor returns. Football cannot mortgage its future for financial gain.
Europe’s position is clear. We will never lend this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation.
As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.
Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination.
There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise. This is one of those moments.
Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.
UEFA war with Infantino
UEFA’s stance leaves a monumental dent in Infantino’s plot given tournaments played without European nations would leave it significantly short on quality.
From 1998 onwards, a European nation has failed to win the World Cup only twice, with those exceptions being Brazil’s triumph in 2002 and Argentina in 2022.
UEFA was prompted to call the emergency meeting after Infantino ignited a political storm across the footballing landscape when it emerged he planned to sell stakes in the World Cup.
The proposal, titled the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), would allow shares to be sold in tournaments like the World Cup and the Club World Cup.
Infantino informed the associations that made up FIFA they had until September 19 to make a decision on granting permission for investors to purchase stakes in the competition.
Unsurprisingly, the plan was met with widespread condemnation, as the FA, UEFA and CONCACAF all released strongly-worded statements in response.
Infantino also expressed his intention to run the FFE as commissioner, should he be re-elected as FIFA president.
However, re-election may not be straightforward.
Next man up
There were growing calls among UEFA federations towards the end of the World Cup to back a candidate to run against Infantino at the next FIFA presidential election.
November 18 is the deadline to select a candidate for the elections, which will take place at March’s FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco.
One name who had significant support in UEFA circles was Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
However, those close to Al-Khelaifi insist he had no aspirations to stand, nor give up his roles at PSG and beIN Sports.
A spokesperson for Al-Khelaifi said: “Mr. Al-Khelaifi has absolutely no ambition, no intention and no interest in the FIFA role and all this media noise, and instead will continue to quietly and constructively support all the institutions of world and European football.”
Infantino was already under fire prior to his FFE plans due to his conduct at the World Cup.
The 56-year-old received a call from US President Donald Trump, who requested a review into USMNT striker Folarin Balogun’s red card.
Balogun had his suspension lifted shortly after Trump’s intervention, although Infantino insisted the decision was made independently by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
However, it later emerged the call to let Balogun play against Belgium in the round of 16 was solely made by FIFA Disciplinary Committee chairman Mohamed Al Kamali.
Following the tournament, the Norwegian FA announced it intended to lodge a formal complaint to FIFA’s ethics committee regarding Trump and his involvement in lifting Balogun’s suspension.
Infantino has served as FIFA’s president since February 2016.
His tenure oversaw the expansion of the World Cup from 32 teams to 48, which was introduced for the 2026 edition of the competition.
Rory Jennings’ verdict on Infantino
Although his time as president has seen several historic firsts, few have been appreciated by the football community.
And his latest act of villainy prompted talkSPORT host Rory Jennings to take a stunning dig in his direction.
“I think he is a tyrant and he needs to be stopped and I think it’s really important to acknowledge that,” Jennings said on talkSPORT Drive.
Jennings added: “Infantino has clearly been corrupted by power. He clearly loves the reputation, he clearly loves the limelight. If you look at his profile on social media, he’s clearly infected by the stardust of it all.
“He loves the association with the president. He’s clearly in Trump’s pocket and Trump obviously loves football for what it’s worth in terms of only happening because the World Cup went to the biggest commercial country it could.”
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