Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Threatens Legal Action as Infantino’s World Cup Sell-Off Plan Collapses

FIFA president Gianni Infantino abandoned a proposal to sell a roughly 20 percent stake in a new commercial entity that would have run the World Cup and other FIFA competitions. The $20 billion-valued plan, backed by investors such as Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital, was scrapped after a wave of opposition.

Al Jazeera (website)

Infantino unveiled the “FIFA Forward Enterprise” (FFE) on July 27 2026, aiming to raise up to $4.2 billion (later cited as $10 billion) from private equity and to pay each of FIFA’s 211 member associations a one-off $20 million. UEFA’s 55 European members voted on July 30 2026 to boycott FIFA competitions while the plan was active; UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC publicly rejected it.

ABC News Australia

• July 27 2026 – FIFA announces the FFE spin-off.

CNN

• July 30 2026 – UEFA votes unanimously to boycott FIFA events if the plan proceeds.

CBS Sports

• July 31 2026 – Infantino withdraws the proposal after backlash.

ESPN

• August 3 2026 – UEFA issues a legal-action warning; Serbia, Sweden and Wales withdraw support for Infantino’s re-election. England is expected to follow.

Al Jazeera (website)

• September 19 2026 – Original deadline for investors to commit (now moot).

CNN

• November 18 2026 – Deadline for candidates to file for the FIFA presidential election.

CBS Sports

• March 18 2027 – Scheduled vote in Rabat, Morocco.

New York Post

• The abandoned deal would have sold about 20 percent of the commercial entity for roughly $4 billion.

Reuters

• Over 200 letters of support for Infantino’s re-election were recorded before the controversy; withdrawals now include Wales, Serbia, Sweden, and likely England.

The Independent

• FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour said the project was “the work of one person” and that staff felt “deceived” by Infantino’s lack of openness.

New York Post

• The Football Association of Wales formally withdrew support, citing governance failures. England’s FA is preparing a similar withdrawal.

Al Jazeera (website)

Reports differ on whether Infantino sought direct assistance from the U.S. administration. The New York Post claimed he scheduled a call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and repeatedly tried to reach President Donald Trump after the plan collapsed. The U.S. State Department, via Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson, denied any such call was planned. FIFA declined to comment.

Daily Beast

• “I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” — Carlos Cordeiro, senior adviser

ESPN

• “It is the project of one person,” — Kevin Lamour, FIFA chief operating officer

ESPN

• UEFA may proceed with legal or arbitration actions pending further investigation.

CNN

• National associations are expected to submit formal withdrawals of support before the November 18 candidate deadline.

CBS Sports

• Potential challengers, such as CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, are being discussed, though no official candidacy has been announced.

CBS Sports

• The FIFA Congress on March 18 2027 will decide whether Infantino secures a fourth term or is replaced.

The Independent