UEFA is intensifying its efforts to convene an emergency meeting with its 55 member associations this week, as reported by sources to ESPN. The discussion will center on strategies, including the possibility of a World Cup boycott, to challenge FIFA’s proposal to raise $20 billion through equity sales to external investors.
According to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the organization aims to “unlock the commercial potential” of football by enlisting investors to support the newly established FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). This entity will oversee commercial operations and events, including future men’s and women’s World Cups.
FIFA is collaborating with multinational financial firm J.P. Morgan for this endeavor, with potential investors including Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, who is a son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
In response, UEFA issued a strong statement on Tuesday, asserting that the sport “isn’t FIFA’s to sell.”
U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham became the first high-profile world leader to denounce FIFA’s proposal, stating on X that “Football does not belong to investors.”
ESPN sources indicate that there is significant dissent within UEFA regarding FIFA’s proposals. UEFA’s statement emphasized, “This crosses a line that football’s governing bodies should never cross. UEFA takes this matter very seriously, and so should all National Football Associations, along with everyone invested in the future of the game, including leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments, and beyond.”
“The essence and governance of football are not commodities to be traded, especially without transparency regarding who benefits financially.”
“None of us own football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”
To demonstrate unity and resistance against Infantino’s plan, a virtual meeting of the 55 European member associations is anticipated to take place by the week’s end.
It is “highly likely” that a virtual meeting will be organized before the end of the week. FIFA had previously abandoned a proposal to host the World Cup every two years in 2021 due to the threat of a UEFA boycott, a tactic anticipated to be employed again against FIFA’s new plan.
In a statement on Tuesday, FIFA announced that the FFE would aim to raise up to $4.2 billion this year to fund development programs, based on an initial equity valuation of $20 billion. It plans to carefully select long-term investors to acquire minority, non-controlling interests.
“This initiative is about democratizing football globally,” Infantino stated in FIFA’s communication.
The recent World Cup, which concluded this month, further strengthened the political and personal ties between Trump and Infantino, raising concerns from UEFA about these connections.
FIFA’s Tuesday statement highlighted the financial benefits for each of its 211 members through the projected “FIFA Fast-Forward Program,” proposing increased development funds per member—$20 million, $22 million, and $24 million across subsequent cycles—compared to the currently promised $8 million through the 2027-30 World Cup cycle.
FIFA reported record income of approximately $12 billion from the 2026 tournament, which featured unprecedented ticket and hospitality prices across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. It remains uncertain how this revenue could be replicated for the co-hosting of the 2030 men’s edition by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
Member federations would have the option to engage in these new financial prospects, according to FIFA.
FIFA would maintain exclusive control over the FFE and authority over football governance, competitions, match calendars, and all regulatory and sporting decisions, the organization stated.
There was no timeline provided on Tuesday for FIFA’s discussions and decisions, chaired by Infantino, or for its 211 member associations.
An online congress is scheduled for November 23 to confirm the hosts for the Women’s World Cup editions in 2031 and 2035.
Information for this report was sourced from The Associated Press.