All 55 UEFA members vote to boycott World Cup over FIFA investor plan

All 55 UEFA member associations voted unanimously on Thursday to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions if president Gianni Infantino proceeds with plans to sell stakes in the tournament to private investors, plunging world soccer into its deepest crisis in decades.

"UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions," the European soccer body declared after an emergency virtual meeting held Thursday afternoon.bbc+2

The boycott would cover the men's and women's World Cups and the Club World Cup, and would be triggered if Infantino's proposals are approved by FIFA's 211 member associations. The first test of the stance arrives in October, when the Women's World Cup play-offs are scheduled.bbc+1

The Plan That Sparked a Revolt

FIFA announced on Tuesday a proposal to spin off its commercial operations into a new subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise, valued at roughly $20 billion. The plan calls for selling approximately a 20% stake to private investors, with Thrive Eternal, a firm led by Joshua Kushner — brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner — expected to lead the investor group, according to the Financial Times. JPMorgan ↗ 0.27% is reportedly advising on the deal.variety+2

In exchange for ratification, Infantino offered each of FIFA's 211 member associations up to $20 million in one-off payments and increased annual development funding, setting a September 19 deadline for written approval. Without approval, FIFA projected a development package of about $2.7 billion, compared to $10 billion if the plan passes.espn+1

A Wall of Opposition

The boycott threat is expected to effectively kill the proposal. Without European powerhouses such as England, France, Spain, and Germany — nations that have won every World Cup but one since 2006 — the tournament's commercial appeal to investors would collapse.nypost+1

UEFA had already released two statements condemning the plan before Thursday's vote. "The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade — especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially," UEFA said earlier in the week. Concacaf, representing 41 nations across North and Central America, expressed it was "deeply concerned by the lack of due process", while the Asian Football Confederation also voiced disappointment over the lack of consultation.nytimes+2

The backlash has crossed into the political arena. U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said, "The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone's to sell". EU Sports Commissioner Glen Micallef criticized what he called American corporate sports culture being imposed on the game.variety+2

What Comes Next

Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol compared the moment to the collapse of the European Super League in 2021, when a wave of opposition dismantled the breakaway project within days. Germany's soccer association president Bernd Neuendorf predicted that without UEFA's backing, no investor would proceed with the deal.dw+1

The next FIFA competition scheduled in Europe is the Women's Under-20 World Cup, hosted by Poland beginning September 5.aljazeera+1