FIFA World Cup plan: Infantino tackles UEFA and global game – all to know

Published 31 July 2026 · sports

Al Jazeera looks at the growing global opposition for FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s private investment plan. The people’s game is facing a civil war. Football

Al Jazeera looks at the growing global opposition for FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s private investment plan. The people’s game is facing a civil war. Football – so often also dubbed ‘the beautiful game’ – is on the verge of an ugly standoff that threatens an established order that has stood since FIFA’s governance of the game began in 1904. FIFA’s proposal, fronted by its President Gianni Infantino, to sell stakes in the World Cup and other events to private investors has been met with a furious backlash worldwide. The plan was only revealed on Tuesday. In the days that have followed, the sport has made headlines around the world and faced a split in the game with boycotts threatened. Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at where and how football has gone from a celebration of World Cup glory for Spain to a divide that has provoked fierce words from the continental governing bodies, politicians and a resigning FIFA adviser alike. What are FIFA’s proposals for its World Cup and events? FIFA has staged World Cups every four years since 1930, breaking only for World War Two. The tournament has expanded from 13 teams competing at the inaugural event to a record 48 that lined up at World Cup 2026. That number could swell to 64 for the 2030 edition. That in itself has drawn debate, but on Tuesday Infantino revealed a proposal to sell minority stakes in the World Cup, along with other events such as the FIFA Club World Cup, to private investors. The plan would centre around an investment firm attracting private funding. The expectation is that Joshua Kushner, the founder of Thrive Capital, would lead the proposed investor group via a fund called Thrive Eternal. Joshua is the brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of United States President Donald Trump. Infantino has given the organisation’s 211-member federations until ⁠⁠September 19 ⁠⁠to support the private investment proposal. Why have UEFA voted to boycott FIFA events over its World Cup plan? The response to FIFA’s plans has been damning. European football’s governing body, UEFA, voted on Thursday to boycott FIFA – and with it future World Cups – unless all plans to seek private investment for minority stakes in the governing body’s events were dropped immediately.

UEFA is made up of 55 nations and its vote was unanimous. The organisation based in Switzerland, which is also home to FIFA, cited its concern that it was “irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret”. “The World Cup cannot ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠be treated as an investment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. “No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale,” the statement said. Will CONCACAF also boycott FIFA over World Cup plans? CONCACAF, the regional bloc for North America, Central America and the Caribbean, also rejected FIFA’s ⁠⁠proposal during ⁠⁠a meeting on Thursday. It stopped short, however, of following UEFA’s plan to boycott World Cups. CONCACAF, made up of 41 member associations, expressed “deep concerns” about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal, the short deadline and absence of any review or approval by relevant FIFA governance bodies. “The discussion reinforced the need for greater transparency and proper governance,” it said in a media release. “For these reasons, CONCACAF and its ⁠⁠41 Member Associations have: Rejected ⁠⁠the proposal.” What is Asia’s stance on FIFA’s plans? The Asian Football Confederation has also spoken out strongly against FIFA’s plans and have backed the stances taken by UEFA and CONCACAF, but they too have stopped short of voting to boycott events staged by the governing body. “The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a FIFA World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game,” the AFC said in a statement on Friday. “Football should never have been placed in such a position.” Has FIFA received any support for the World Cup plan? The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) has said it would study the proposal before deciding its ⁠⁠position. The FMF said FIFA had informed it of the proposal on July 28 and would provide member associations with ⁠⁠additional information and documentation through a series of round tables before ⁠⁠a decision is made.