FIFA president Gianni Infantino's plan to sell off the World Cup has collapsed after UEFA's 55 member associations and Concacaf's 41 members rejected the proposal, with UEFA threatening to boycott FIFA competitions including the World Cup itself unless the plans are abandoned.
UEFA issued a unanimous statement, co-signed by the English FA and all 54 other European associations, declaring that the World Cup "is not for sale." The statement accused Infantino of "a profound failure of leadership" and presiding over "governance by intimidation." UEFA also described his attempts to secure private investment without consultation as both "irresponsible" and "indefensible."
Infantino's scheme, which aimed to raise £3.1 billion in private investment, was pursued without consulting the sport's major federations. Even his predecessor Sepp Blatter has branded the plan as "deeply damaging" to the game.
The 56-year-old has said he intends to stand for re-election as FIFA president at the next congress in Morocco in March 2027. Concacaf's members joined UEFA in opposing the plan, deepening the rift between Infantino and the sport's largest federations.
The episode draws comparisons to the failed European Super League launched in secret in 2021, which collapsed almost immediately after its announcement. Like those club executives, Infantino pursued his financing plans without the backing of the game's key stakeholders.
