Split in Soccer: UEFA Responds to Infantino’s Threats: “European National Teams Will Not Participate in the World Cup”

The world of soccer is heading toward a dramatic split: FIFA President Gianni Infantino, despite the controversy, is pressing ahead with his plan to sell a portion of the World Cup to private investment funds to raise billions through FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE): the newly formed commercial enterprise will be tasked with managing the rights to the World Cup for national teams and the Club World Cup, and its partners will include the U.S. bank JP Morgan and the Thrive Eternal fund, led by the family of Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Infantino sent a letter to all 211 national associations, explaining that those who join the FFE project will immediately receive a one-time payment of $20 million, with annual contributions for the following four-year period ranging from $2 million to $5 million. These are irresistible incentives, especially for smaller countries. Furthermore, Infantino has threatened retaliation against those who do not fall in line, with an immediate 75% cut in FIFA funding.

UEFA has convened an emergency council meeting with all 55 European federations, which have decided to respond to Infantino: they will not participate in any FIFA tournaments until Infantino withdraws his proposal. Undoubtedly in the crosshairs is the Club World Cup—a major source of revenue for FIFA, which would find itself without the world’s strongest teams—and then the 2030 World Cup. “UEFA and its 55 member associations stand united. We unanimously and unreservedly reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership of the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors. The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of soccer’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams, and fans from every continent. No part of it should ever be sold to private investors.”

“The World Cup is not for sale. It is irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such importance to soccer was conceived in secret and brought nearly to the point of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with the governance of the sport. This is not merely a serious lack of leadership, but a complete abdication of FIFA’s duty as the guardian of world soccer. National federations around the world now face an ultimatum: accept the irreversible takeover of soccer’s biggest competitions or suffer the consequences. This is not a “democratic decision,” but a form of governance based on intimidation—an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the protection of world soccer. But our opposition goes far beyond the procedure itself. The moment outside investors acquire ownership stakes in FIFA competitions, soccer changes forever. Commercial profit becomes a permanent obligation. Investors’ expectations become a daily pressure. From that moment on, every decision regarding the international calendar, every decision regarding competition formats, and every decision that shapes the future of soccer is no longer guided by what best serves the game, but by what best serves the shareholders,” according to the statement reported by *La Gazzetta dello Sport*.

“This model has no place in world soccer. The future of soccer cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose primary duty is to maximize financial profit. Nor can the interests of national federations, leagues, clubs, players, and fans be subordinated to investors’ profits. Soccer cannot mortgage its future for financial gain. Europe’s position is clear. We will never legitimize this model. No one has the moral authority to sell what they hold in trust for the next generation. Following today’s discussion, no UEFA member association will participate in any FIFA competition as long as these proposals remain on the table, unless they are abandoned in their entirety and binding guarantees are provided that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership. Let there be no doubt: UEFA and its member associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination. There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are willing to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise on. This is one of those moments. Some things are simply too important to be sold. The FIFA World Cup belongs to soccer. It belongs to it forever. And as long as Europe has a say in the matter, it will never be for sale.”