The simmering conflict between European football’s governing body and FIFA has erupted into open confrontation. On Wednesday, UEFA issued a blistering condemnation of plans by FIFA to sell a minority stake in the World Cup, accusing its president, Gianni Infantino, of attempting to force through the proposal by imposing an arbitrary deadline on national associations.
“FIFA cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends,” UEFA said in a statement, reflecting growing unease across the continent. The European body has scheduled an emergency virtual meeting for Thursday to coordinate a response among its 55 member associations.
A $20 billion subsidiary and a tight deadline
FIFA announced on Tuesday that it intends to create a $20 billion subsidiary to manage the World Cup and other tournaments, offering external investors up to a 20% stake. A letter sent to football associations worldwide, seen by British media, reveals that Infantino has set a deadline of 19 September for members to signal their support. Those who join early would receive a $40 million (approximately €35.1 million) financial incentive.
UEFA described the deadline as revealing “everything” about the proposal and claimed that opposition to the plan is growing. The English Football Association, the world’s oldest national football body, said it was “completely unaware of this proposal and have no substantive details.”
The plan has already triggered a backlash across Europe, with several national associations accusing Infantino of blurring the lines between football, politics and private business. The involvement of New York-based JPMorgan as financial adviser, and potential investors such as Thrive Eternal—founded by Joshua Kushner, whose brother Jared is married to Ivanka Trump—has only deepened suspicions about the deal’s transparency.
FIFA insists that long-term investors would be carefully vetted and would acquire only minority, non-controlling stakes, with all net proceeds reinvested in football worldwide. The proposal must now be approved by FIFA’s 211 member associations and the FIFA Council, a 37-member decision-making panel chaired by Infantino.
This is not the first time Infantino has faced criticism over his leadership style. Earlier this year, he launched an Instagram rant defending his record and telling critics to meditate. His ambitions have also extended beyond football: he has been linked to a potential bid for the UN secretary-general role, with reports that Donald Trump has pushed for his candidacy.
UEFA’s emergency meeting on Thursday will aim to forge a unified European position. With the deadline fast approaching, the outcome could determine whether the World Cup’s commercial future remains under FIFA’s sole control or opens up to outside investors—a move that many in European football see as a threat to the sport’s integrity.
