UEFA to discuss World Cup boycott over FIFA private investment plan - sources

UEFA is accelerating efforts to hold an emergency meeting of its 55 member associations this week, sources told ESPN, to discuss plans, including a potential World Cup boycott, to oppose a FIFA proposal to raise $20 billion from a sale of equity to outside investors.

As part of a plan to "unleash the commercial potential and opportunity that FIFA has," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the game's global governing body will seek investors to fund the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a newly formed body which would take control of commercial and event operations, including future editions of the men's and women's World Cup.

FIFA is working with J.P. Morgan while investors would include Thrive Eternal, which was launched by Joshua Kushner, whose brother Jared Kushner is a son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.

UEFA issued a swift riposte to the plans on Tuesday, saying that the sport "isn't FIFA's to sell."

U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham became the first prominent world leader to condemn the FIFA proposal by saying on X that "football doesn't belong to investors."

Sources have told ESPN that there is strong opposition within UEFA to the FIFA proposals.

"This crosses a line that football's governing institutions should never cross," UEFA's statement said. "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.

"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."

And in an attempt to outline unity and opposition to the Infantino scheme, a meeting of the 55 European member associations is planned for this week.

Sources said that a virtual meeting is "highly likely" to be scheduled to take place before the end of the week.

FIFA abandoned a proposal in 2021 to stage the World Cup every two years because of the threat of a UEFA boycott, and the same deterrent is expected to be used to fight FIFA's latest plan.

In a statement Tuesday, FIFA said that FFE would raise up to $4.2 billion later this year to help fund development programs "based on an initial equity valuation of $20 billion by carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests."

"This is about the democratization of football worldwide," Infantino said in a FIFA statement.

The men's World Cup that finished this month only deepened the political and personal ties between Trump and Infantino, and fueled concerns about those ties including from UEFA.

FIFA's statement Tuesday about its proposed project led with how much money each of its 211 members could get through 2038 in the "FIFA Fast-Forward Program."

Instead of the currently promised $8 million each in development funds through the 2027-30 World Cup commercial cycle, it would be $20 million, then $22 million and $24 million in the following cycles.

FIFA banked record World Cup income of about $12 billion from the 2026 tournament, which had unprecedented high prices for tickets and hospitality across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It already was unclear how that money could be matched from Spain, Portugal and Morocco co-hosting the 2030 men's edition.

Member federations could choose if they wanted to take part in the new financial opportunities, FIFA said.

"FIFA would retain sole control of FFE and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, match calendar, and all regulatory and sporting decisions," the soccer body said.

There was no timetable suggested Tuesday for debate and decisions by FIFA, its ruling council chaired by Infantino, and the 211 members.

FIFA is scheduled to hold an online congress Nov. 23 to confirm hosts of the Women's World Cup editions in 2031 and 2035.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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