What we covered here
• UEFA boycotts the World Cup: Europe’s soccer governing body has voted to boycott future men’s and women’s World Cups in reaction to FIFA’s plan to inject private money into its competitions. “The World Cup is not for sale,” UEFA said. Six of the current top 10 squads in the FIFA rankings are European teams.
• What’s in the plan: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed the creation of a $20 billion company running major tournaments with private investors. UEFA called an emergency meeting and issued blistering statements in an escalating dispute over the scheme, saying there was “zero transparency as to who gains financially.”
• Kushner family backing: FIFA is working with JP Morgan on the commercial subsidiary, which would be called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). Intended investors include Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner, whose brother Jared Kushner is a son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
We’ve wrapped up our live coverage. You can read more about the UEFA boycott of FIFA competitions here, or catch up by scrolling through the posts below.
Catch up: UEFA votes to boycott FIFA competitions after proposed investment plan
In a rebuke of FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, UEFA’s 55 member associations voted unanimously today to boycott future competitions by soccer’s global governing body, including the World Cup. The decision came in response to FIFA’s plan to sell private stakes in upcoming World Cup tournaments that sparked backlash from fans and soccer associations around the world.
The vote carries enormous weight with less than a year to go from the Women’s World Cup. On both the men’s and women’s side, six of the top 10 FIFA rankings are held by European teams, including reigning champions Spain. Their absence could prompt more of FIFA’s confederations to consider similar measures.
Catch up on all the latest from a wild day in global soccer:
• FIFA’s controversial proposal: FIFA announced plans on Tuesday to set up a new entity, valued at $20 billion, to control the commercial and operational sides of its competitions and open them to private investment. Soccer authorities criticized FIFA for a lack of consultation over the plan, and the main proposed investor group – headed by the brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump – also attracted scrutiny.
• Backlash from UEFA: As reports of the plan came out on Tuesday, Europe’s soccer body said it “crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross.” After FIFA released an outline of the proposal, UEFA followed up, writing that “FIFA cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends.” Today’s boycott escalated that messaging into a direct challenge to FIFA’s plan.
• The clock is ticking: Less than two weeks after the 2026 World Cup ended, UEFA’s boycott puts immediate pressure on FIFA to resolve the standoff before upcoming global competitions. The big one is the 2027 Women’s World Cup, which begins June 24 in Brazil next year, but the Under-20 Women’s World Cup and the Under-17 Men’s and Women’s World Cups will take place even sooner.
• A World Cup without Europe? UEFA also organizes the annual Champions League and the quadrennial European Championship, massive revenue generators for FIFA.
• FIFA’s other confederations: Other continental soccer bodies, including AFC in Asia and CONCACAF, which represents North and Central America and the Caribbean, had already expressed concerns about the investment plan. Following UEFA’s action, attention now turns to those groups to see whether they will follow suit or respond to FIFA’s plan in other ways.
• Another Infantino controversy: Gianni Infantino has been no stranger to scandal in his decade-plus-long reign as FIFA’s president. His close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin; controversy over Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers; and his flattery of Trump have shadowed over the three men’s World Cups held during his presidency. But as Infantino seeks reelection next March, backlash to his investment proposal and UEFA’s boycott could prove a uniquely steep challenge.
CNN’s Patrick Sung Cuadrado, Aleks Klosok and Billy Stockwell contributed reporting.
The backlash over FIFA's proposal comes as Infantino is poised to seek reelection
Gianni Infantino is poised to stand unopposed in FIFA’s presidential election in March 2027.
The Swiss official is seeking reelection to a fourth and final term as FIFA president, which would extend his tenure at the top of world football to 15 years, through 2031.
Infantino, who was first appointed to the most powerful position in world football in February 2016, reportedly has the backing of a majority of FIFA’s 211 member national associations.
His pledge to increase FIFA funding for member associations has been central to his appeal and electoral success.
Whether UEFA will now look to unite around a candidate to challenge Infantino remains to be seen.
Candidates must be put forward by November 18.
Today’s dramatic move by UEFA is the latest chapter in an ongoing tussle with FIFA
Today’s significant escalation by UEFA is the latest chapter in an often tense and difficult relationship between FIFA and UEFA in recent years.
UEFA reacted angrily in 2021 when Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s current chief of global football development, floated the idea of staging the World Cup every two years.
Fast-forward to this summer’s World Cup, when UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin boycotted the final earlier this month in protest over several FIFA decisions taken during the tournament. Chief among them was FIFA’s decision, following US President Donald Trump’s intervention, to help turn USA forward Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban into a suspended punishment, allowing him to play in the last-16 encounter with Belgium.
European soccer associations pledge solidarity after boycott vote
We’re getting some more reaction now regarding UEFA’s decision to boycott World Cups over a controversial FIFA investment plan, including from some of the European soccer governing body’s national associations.
- England’s Football Association (FA) said it stands “shoulder to shoulder” with the European teams after the vote. “The FIFA World Cup belongs to football and always will,” a spokesperson said.
- The Football Association of Wales (FAW) also said it “stands with UEFA and our fellow member associations.” And Scotland’s Football Association said it was “fully supportive” of the boycott decision.
- The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it “expresses its full support” for the European soccer governing body’s statement.
- Meanwhile, European Commissioner of Sport Glenn Micallef said he fully supports UEFA’s position. “Proud to see Europe’s football associations leading on governance, standing firm on their principles and defending the integrity of the game,” Micallef posted on X.
- Britain’s Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the boycott was a “principled decision” that the UK supports. “Football belongs to the fans, not billionaire investors. Enough is enough. It’s time to take a stand to protect our game,” Nandy said.
This post has been updated with additional reaction.
Next FIFA tournament is just 37 days away
The next major FIFA international event – Under-20 Women’s World Cup – is set to kick-off in just 37 days in Poland.
Twenty-four nations are due to compete in the tournament with six of those competing nations hailing from Europe.
Poland, France, Italy, England, Portugal and Spain are all currently set to take to the field.
The tournament begins on September 5 in Katowice.
UEFA boycotting FIFA competitions is a big deal
It is important to remember that, even though UEFA’s member associations only make up just over 26% of FIFA’s worldwide membership, those 55 largely European associations carry massive weight in soccer, both on the national team and club level.
Many of the richest and most powerful national soccer associations are in Europe and carry a lot of influence due to their domestic leagues and the strength of their club sides. Countries like Spain, England (which has the richest domestic competition in the world, the Premier League) and Germany feature powerhouse teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Bayern Munich – moneymaking machines that drive commercial interests worldwide, both on and off the pitch.
On a sporting level, European national teams take up six spots in FIFA’s top 10 of its men’s global rankings. At the 2026 World Cup, UEFA members made up six of the eight squads in the quarterfinals and three of the four semifinalists, while Spain ultimately won the tournament.
On the women’s side, it’s much the same. UEFA associations, again, make up six of the top 10 in the world rankings. At the 2023 World Cup, Europe had five out of eight quarterfinalists, three of the four semifinalists and both finalists, with Spain also winning.
There are many FIFA tournaments set to be held in the next year, including the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Here is a list of the competitions that may be impacted:
- Under-20 Women’s World Cup: September 5 - 27 in Poland
- Under-17 Women’s World Cup: October 17 - November 7 in Morocco
- Under-17 Men’s World Cup: November 19 - December 13 in Qatar
- Women’s World Cup: June 24 - July 25, 2027 in Brazil
UEFA has acted. How will other confederations respond?
Is this a line-in-the-sand moment for FIFA’s investment plans?
UEFA’s decisive action now throws the ball into the court of FIFA’s other confederations – CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia), CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean), OFC (Oceania) and CONMEBOL (South America).
AFC and CONCACAF have already both expressed deep concern at the lack of consultation over the proposal.
CAF’s executive committee announced yesterday that it will meet next week to evaluate the proposal.
CONMEBOL and OFC have not commented publicly.
CNN has reached out to all those confederations for their reaction to the breaking news and whether they plan to follow UEFA’s stance.
European soccer voices anger in unanimous support of boycott
UEFA’s decision to boycott FIFA’s competitions was unanimously agreed on by all 55 member associations.
During Thursday’s virtual call, more than 40 representatives took the floor to voice their anger at the way the European soccer confederation has been treated by world football’s governing body.
Those who spoke raised questions as to why FIFA reserves couldn’t be used for development of the game. They also raised concerns about the lack of consultation on FIFA’s controversial investment plans.
CNN has reached out to FIFA for immediate comment on the UEFA announcement. We’ll update you on the governing body’s reaction when we receive it.
“The World Cup is not for sale,” UEFA declares after announcing boycott
European soccer governing body UEFA has just published a statement regarding its decision to boycott FIFA competitions and reject FIFA’s investment proposal, saying all its 55 member associates “stand as one.”
The governing body said FIFA’s plan to inject private money into its competitions was “irresponsible and indefensible,” particularly as it was “conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game.”
UEFA said national associations around the world now face a choice: either “accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences.” It accused FIFA of “governance by intimidation.”
UEFA to boycott World Cups in protest at FIFA plan to inject private money into the game
European soccer governing body UEFA has voted to boycott future men’s and women’s World Cups in reaction to the global soccer governing body FIFA’s plan to inject private money into its competitions.
The UEFA vote was unanimous, with all 55 members in favor, putting the richest and most important FIFA member in conflict with its president, Gianni Infantino.
“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,” UEFA said in a statement shared with CNN.
“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.”
FIFA and Infantino announced plans Tuesday to set up a separate subsidiary – involving private equity investment – that would have control of the commercial and operational rights of one of the globe’s biggest sporting events.
The proposal has come under intense scrutiny and criticism from many around the world, with UEFA saying the “soul and governance” of the game are under threat. FIFA though said that the money generated from what it calls the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) will be reinvested back into the sport.
In Thursday’s emergency meeting held virtually, UEFA’s 55 members approved the boycott, which would mean teams like current World Cup champion Spain plus semifinalists France and England would not play in the 2030 World Cup.
The boycott would also affect next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil, where three of the four semifinalists were also European, including defending champion Spain, and would miss the tournament.
Former England FA chief executive tells CNN UEFA holds negotiating cards
With UEFA’s emergency meeting underway, former England Football Association chief executive Mark Palios has told CNN that a World Cup without Europe’s top nations would be hard to fathom and “severely reduce” FIFA’s ability to monetize its competitions.
Six of the current top ten nations in FIFA’s World Rankings hail from Europe.
Palios, who was in his role between 2003 and 2004, said he wouldn’t be surprised if UEFA played its major card and withdrew European clubs from all FIFA competitions following today’s meeting.
On the proposed investment plan, Palios said the announcement by FIFA President Gianni Infantino was symptomatic of the organization’s approach to leadership, characterized by “poor governance, poor process and it doesn’t involve the stakeholders.”
He also said the surprise move raised bigger questions over FIFA’s wider structure.
Kushner family ties to FIFA's controversial new investment plan
The controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal has attracted criticism for a myriad of reasons, but perhaps the most striking for our American readers is due to the involvement of private investors, in particular the main proposed investor group, Thrive Eternal.
The private equity company is headed up by Joshua Kushner – the younger brother of Jared Kushner, who is the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
Though there is no reported or announced direct tie to the president, FIFA President Gianni Infantino shares a good relationship with Trump, so the optics are not ideal, particularly given the outcry around the proposal.
FIFA and UEFA need each other
To put it simply, FIFA and UEFA need each other – for different reasons.
UEFA may only account for just over a quarter of FIFA’s membership (it encompasses 55 of FIFA’s 211 national associations), but it organizes some of the sport’s most lucrative club and national team competitions and represents many of its biggest leagues, clubs, stars and broadcasters.
These include the annual edition of the Champions League and the quadrennial European Championship, which generate billions in revenue through broadcasting rights, sponsorship and commercial partnerships.
That combination of star power and financial pull gives it real leverage whenever FIFA proposes changes affecting competitions, the international calendar or the commercial structure of the game.
We’ve seen, for example, how the two have repeatedly clashed over proposals to increase the size of both of FIFA’s marquee tournaments – the World Cup and Club World Cup.
The relationship, therefore, is one of mutual dependence: FIFA needs Europe’s participation to maximize the value of its flagship tournaments, while UEFA operates within FIFA’s global regulatory framework.
Gianni Infantino's rise to the most powerful position in soccer
A Swiss administrator who rose up the ranks to become the most powerful man in soccer, Gianni Infantino’s decade-plus-long reign as the head of the sport’s world governing body, FIFA, has been signposted by controversy, expansion and monetary growth.
He was initially set to serve for a period of three years but has been re-elected for subsequent terms, running unopposed.
Having qualified as a soccer lawyer, Infantino held multiple roles at European governing body UEFA, before taking over the FIFA presidency in February 2016 at an extraordinary congress as corruption allegations swirled around the organization.
Infantino has overseen three men’s World Cups in his time: Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and most recently this summer’s tournament in North America.
Each edition, though, has been mired in controversy: Infantino’s close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin; the Gulf nation’s treatment of migrant workers; and the FIFA chief’s flattery of President Trump.
Under his leadership, FIFA has expanded the men’s World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, with reports that a 64-team format is under consideration for the 2030 edition.
Infantino has also sought to substantially bolster the FIFA coffers with lucrative sponsorship ties.
It’s not the first time he’s explored the idea of selling off parts of FIFA.
In 2018, Infantino proposed a $25 billion deal with Japan’s SoftBank to create new global competitions, including an expanded men’s Club World Cup.
That ultimately failed after meeting fierce resistance from UEFA.
Whether or not his latest proposal gets green lit remains to be seen.
UEFA could take some bold actions today
It remains to be seen what takes place today in UEFA’s emergency meeting, but the member associations are sure to consider a plethora of options.
Among the measures that are reportedly on the table is a boycott of any FIFA-controlled competitions, including the World Cup, Women’s World Cup and Club World Cup. CNN Sports has reached out to UEFA for comment.
If there were to be a boycott by both national teams and club sides, that would likely end FIFA’s drive to establish this separate entity for its commercial and operational interests.
Imagine a World Cup without Spain, France or England (three of the four semifinalists at this year’s edition) or a Club World Cup without Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid or Barcelona. Similarly, next year’s Women’s World Cup would be without defending champion Spain or England, another powerhouse. These wouldn’t be legitimate competitions in the eyes of most fans around the planet and almost no one would watch or pay the substantial amounts of money for tickets, concessions and merchandise that investors would likely push for in the future.
Other measures reported to be under consideration include a breakaway governing body to compete with FIFA that would be formed with other continental confederations, but this is far more unlikely than a boycott.
What have other confederations said about the proposal?
As UEFA meets today, what’s the response been from the other key stakeholders within FIFA to Gianni Infantino’s proposal?
CONCACAF, soccer’s governing body for the Caribbean, Central America and North America, said it was “deeply concerned by the lack of due process.”
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) echoed these concerns, with President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa branding Fifa’s lack of consultation with its members “totally unacceptable” in a letter – seen by Reuters – to the regional body’s 47 member federations today.
The executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced yesterday that it will meet next week to evaluate the proposal.
South American governing body CONMEBOL and the Oceania confederation, a small regional bloc with 11 full member nations, have not commented publicly.
The meeting has kicked off
UEFA’s emergency meeting with its 55 member associations has now begun and we will keep across any developments which come out of it.
Proposal sparked an escalating row with UEFA
It’s safe to say that Europe’s soccer governing body did not react well to reports breaking the news of FIFA’s plans.
In a post on X Tuesday, UEFA strongly condemned the reported proposal, saying, “This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross… The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially.
Roughly two-and-a-half hours later, FIFA released a rough outline of its proposal. The Associated Press then reported that FIFA President Gianni Infantino had set a September 19 deadline for its 211 member associations to accept a one-off $20 million payment underwritten by the private investment into its new scheme, including from an entity owned by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
After news of that deadline dropped, UEFA was even more resolute, posting on X:
“Today, we have learned of FIFA’s deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn. This says everything you need to know about this plan.
“But having held discussions with many stakeholders across the game, UEFA knows there is significant and growing opposition to FIFA’s scheme. FIFA cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends. We can grow the game correctly. It’s time to prioritise associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans.”
Here's why FIFA's proposal is controversial
The FIFA proposal was developed rather opaquely. The first news of it came in a report in the Times of London before it was confirmed by the global soccer body.
Soccer authorities have criticized FIFA for not consulting them on the plans before they were released to the public. Both CONCACAF (North and Central American and Caribbean governing body) and the Asian Football Confederation released statements saying they were unhappy at the lack of consultation.
The plan to create a commercial subsidiary, which would be called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), has also brought a lot of heat due to the involvement of private investors, in particular the main proposed investor group, Thrive Eternal. It is headed up by Joshua Kushner – brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
The fear is that investors, seeking return on their investments, will push to influence matters beyond their remit in order to maximize their profits.
For example, the newly expanded men’s World Cup allowed for a lot more revenue through additional games, while hydration breaks gave broadcasters opportunities to play more ads if they so chose. Under this proposal, there would be even greater incentive to expand the World Cup and the Club World Cup further to include a higher number of teams, providing more games for more revenue. This isn’t speculation, but rather something already postulated by Infantino during the 2026 edition. Would investors also pressure FIFA to hold the World Cup more frequently: every two years instead of every four?
That would then affect player welfare and competitions outside of FIFA’s remit, such domestic leagues and continental club competitions like the Champions League. Players are already nearing their physical limits with additional games, so would this move mean further injuries and have a negative effect across the sport?
European soccer player union FIFPRO Europe said in a statement that it has “deep concern” over the FFE proposal, saying that it risks turning the World Cup and other competitions into “investable assets for private capital, a move that would fundamentally and irreversibly reshape the incentives underpinning the competitions in which players work, compete and build their careers.”
CNN Sports has reached out to FIFA for comment on the proposals.
