UEFA Says It's Lost Confidence in FIFA's Infantino
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European soccer governing body UEFA says it will boycott World Cup competitions over FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plan to inject private money.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino with President of the United States Donald J. Trump during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026,
The Asian Football Confederation has joined the North, Central America and Caribbean football association and UEFA in opposition to FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors.
FIFA said on Friday it will not proceed with its proposal to sell a piece of its business empire to outside investors after the project was met with fierce resistance from some of its member associations.
Europe's governing soccer body on Saturday welcomed FIFA's decision to abandon plans to sell a stake in the World Cup and said it would work with partners and stakeholders to make sure such moves cannot be fast tracked without consultation in the future.
This is an updated version of an article that first appeared on The Athletic in May 2025. For an insight into the one-upmanship between FIFA, the world football governing body, and UEFA, its European counterpart,
Three confederations were hard against the idea. The other three didn't exactly voice support either.
When FIFA announced a proposal to sell a minority stake of its organization, it was met with fierce criticism from CONCACAF and UEFA.