Infantino’s stake sell plan throws global football into uncertainty

KATHMANDU: International football has been thrown into uncertainty less than a month after the successful hosting of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as one of the sport’s most powerful confederations—the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)—has announced it would boycott all FIFA competitions.

The decision follows strong opposition to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell a 20% stake in a newly created subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would oversee major competitions including the World Cup.

UEFA said its 55 member associations unanimously rejected the proposal and warned against private ownership in football’s flagship tournaments.

“UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors,” the confederation said.

Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) has also rejected the proposal, citing concerns over governance, transparency and due process.

Issuing a statement, CONCACAF said its members expressed deep concerns about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal, the artificially short deadline imposed, and the absence of any review or approval by the relevant FIFA governance bodies.

The body also questioned the need for private equity investment following what it described as the most profitable World Cup in history.

While the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has not outright rejected the proposal, it has expressed disappointment at not being consulted beforehand.

“The AFC was not consulted on the proposal and is disappointed that a matter of such significance entered the public domain before the AFC family had been afforded the opportunity to examine and discuss it through the appropriate and established governance channels,” it said.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said it would review the proposal in detail.

CAF has encouraged its member associations to examine the proposal and participate in consultations, reiterating its commitment to working with FIFA and other stakeholders to expand financial resources for football development.

The South American governing body, CONMEBOL, has yet to issue an official response.

Infantino’s proposal reportedly includes a $40 million subsidy for member associations that support the initiative. According to international media reports, the FFE would be run by FIFA but partially funded by private investors, including Joshua Kushner, the brother of the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.

The backlash from UEFA and CONCACAF has put the proposal in serious jeopardy, raising concerns about a potential split in global football governance.

Following backlash from major confederations, FIFA defended its proposal, insisting that no attempt is being made to commercialize the sport’s core assets.

“We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations… and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation,” FIFA said in a statement on Friday.

“Nobody is selling football,” it added, blaming incorrect media reports for disrupting the consultation process and pledging to continue discussions with member associations.