All 55 European nations in UEFA, including the English Football Association, voted to back a boycott of all FIFA tournaments in response to the organization’s plan for Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE). The vote came as a direct protest to FIFA’s proposal, which has sparked a sharp divide among football stakeholders.
The move follows a U-turn by UEFA, which now wants the consultation process, launched by FIFA president Gianni Infantino earlier in the week, to be scrapped immediately. UEFA is calling for a halt to what it describes as a deeply divisive initiative ahead of a potential vote on the matter in September.
FIFA Defends Plan as 'Not Selling Football'
In response, FIFA said it would not abandon its consultation process, despite what it called misleading media coverage. The organization emphasized that the plan is not about selling football but about allowing member associations to take a stake in the commercial side of the sport.
FIFA’s statement insisted the initiative would preserve the spirit and governance of football, adding that no member of the organization would ever entertain the idea of selling the game itself.
European Nations Hold Financial and Political Power
Europe is not only home to five of the last six World Cup winners, but also the dominant force in the Club World Cup and the most lucrative broadcasting market. Without European teams, FIFA’s new commercial venture would likely struggle to attract major investors.
UEFA has previously thwarted other FIFA-backed proposals, including plans for biennial World Cups and a $25bn investment from SoftBank. Its current stance is seen as a strong signal that it is prepared to act on its threat.
According to a recent statement from UEFA, the organization will not legitimize the model. It insisted that no one has the moral right to sell what they are merely holding in trust for the future of the game.
UEFA and its 55 member associations have unanimously agreed to support a boycott of future World Cups and other FIFA competitions, including the Club World Cup and Women’s World Cup. The organization said, “UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions,” and added, “We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.”
UEFA emphasized that the World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product and described it as one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It stressed that no part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors, stating, “The World Cup is not for sale.”
The Football Association added: “We stand shoulder to shoulder with our European colleagues and fully support the collective view. We oppose FIFA’s plans – the FIFA World Cup belongs to football and always will.”
FIFA has promised that raising $4bn from the sale of around 20 per cent in the new vehicle, FIFA Forward Enterprise, would treble its payouts to all 211 member associations and asked them to vote on the scheme in September. However, it has faced fierce backlash since the details leaked on Tuesday, with FAs, continental federations, leagues, clubs, and player unions all criticizing the lack of consultation.
UEFA has been the loudest critic, accusing FIFA of trying to “sell football’s soul” and using the sport to “enrich themselves and their friends.” The only proposed investor so far is Thrive Eternal, a vehicle owned by Joshua Kushner, whose elder brother is the son-in-law to FIFA ally and U.S. President Donald Trump. Infantino has already faced serious questions about his closeness to Trump, who he awarded the first ever FIFA Peace Prize last year and has even accompanied on state business.
The plan has also drawn criticism from the North American confederation, Concacaf, as well as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa, the Bahraini royal who leads the AFC, has issued a statement, declaring that “the AFC is deeply concerned that Fifa’s unilateral actions appear to undermine the very foundations of continental football, which are based on solidarity, cooperation and transparency”. He went on to call for “the highest standards of ethics and good governance”.
JP Morgan, which had previously apologized for its involvement in the imploded plan to create a breakaway European Super League, is again at the center of the controversy, having been working with FIFA to raise $4.2bn with the new commercial vehicle.
Infantino is still insisting that he is pressing ahead with the scheme despite UEFA’s boycott pledge. However, the involvement of Thrive Eternal and the growing backlash from multiple confederations has put the proposal under intense scrutiny.