Three confederations were hard against the idea. The other three didn't exactly voice support either.

European soccer governing body UEFA says it will boycott World Cup competitions over FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plan to inject private money.

European soccer associations said they would boycott the World Cup unless FIFA reverses a controversial deal to sell minority stakes to the marquee soccer tournament.

FIFA has abandoned Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell World Cup commercial stakes after backlash from UEFA and other football bodies.

European football's governing body had previously led the rebellion, announcing that their 55 member nations would boycott the World Cup if the plans weren't scrapped.

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA says it has lost confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino and that "no option should be off the table" as it will pursue a full review of his now abandoned plan to sell stakes of the World Cup to private equity investors.

UEFA, European soccer’s 55-member governing body, is set to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA-organized competitions in protest of a $20 billion Wall Street-style takeover of the global game, sources familiar with the matter told The Post.

Uefa had pledged to boycott Fifa competitions until plans to sell stakes in a World Cup company to private investors were scrapped

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,

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,