European football bodies consider World Cup boycott over FIFA’s $20bn commercial plan

By Arjun Nair / 30.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 30 July 2026 — 4 min read

FIFA’s Commercial Proposal Faces Opposition

FIFA’s proposal to sell a minority stake in a new commercial subsidiary has drawn significant opposition from various football governing bodies. The plan, which aims to reshape the commercial ownership of flagship competitions like the FIFA World Cup and Club World Cup, involves transferring their commercial and event operations into a new company backed by private investment. UEFA, the Football Association (FA), and Concacaf have all raised concerns regarding the process behind this initiative.

Under the proposal, FIFA intends to establish a subsidiary named FIFA Forward Enterprise. This entity would manage the organisation’s commercial and event operations, while FIFA would retain authority over governance, regulations, scheduling, and sporting decisions. The plan suggests selling a 20% minority stake in this new company, valued at an estimated $20 billion, which could generate approximately $4.2 billion in private investment.

JPMorgan, a multinational financial services firm, has been appointed to advise on the transaction. The investor consortium is expected to be led by Thrive Eternal, a fund founded by Thrive Capital founder Joshua Kushner. This connection links the proposed investment to a prominent political family in America.

FIFA maintains that it would remain the majority owner of the subsidiary and continue to oversee all football governance matters. The organisation states that the new structure is designed to generate significantly greater revenues for member associations. The proposal requires approval from FIFA’s 211 member associations before it can proceed.

Concerns and Potential Boycott Discussions

Following initial criticism, FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote to all 211 member associations to defend the proposal, describing it as a “singular and unique funding opportunity.” According to the letter, member associations have until September 19 to approve the plan. Infantino indicated that acceptance would unlock a $10 billion funding package starting on January 1, 2027. He also noted that if the proposal is rejected, the planned expansion of the Forward programme, valued at $2.7 billion, would still be available.

The proposal suggests that each member association could access up to $40 million during the 2027-30 cycle. This includes a one-off payment of up to $20 million through the proposed Fast Forward programme and an additional $20 million through FIFA Forward development funding. FIFA also stated that annual financial support to member associations would continue to increase until 2038.

UEFA has issued a strong response, stating it was not consulted before FIFA publicly announced the plans. The European governing body described the proposal as one that “crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross.” UEFA emphasised that the “soul and governance of football are not assets to trade,” particularly with a lack of transparency regarding financial beneficiaries.

Sources indicate that UEFA has accelerated plans for an emergency virtual meeting of its 55 member associations to discuss potential responses, including a possible boycott of future World Cups. After learning of FIFA’s September 19 deadline, UEFA issued a second statement, criticising both the ultimatum and the broader proposal. They asserted that FIFA “cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends.”

Widespread Disapproval from Confederations

The FA also expressed concerns, stating it became aware of the proposal through media reports and criticised the lack of transparency. The association noted that it was “completely unaware of this proposal” and lacked substantive details. The FA highlighted deep concerns about the absence of due process and governance leading to this point.

Concacaf echoed these sentiments, reporting that it too learned of the proposal only after media reports and FIFA’s public announcement. The confederation expressed deep concern over the lack of due process and shared disappointment that such detailed plans were made public before discussions with relevant governance bodies and stakeholders. Concacaf emphasised the collective responsibility of FIFA, confederations, and member associations to act in the best interests of the sport, guided by good governance and robust processes.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also issued a statement of disapproval. The AFC indicated it was not consulted on the proposal and was disappointed that a matter of such significance entered the public domain without prior engagement through established governance channels. The AFC stressed that initiatives of this scale require comprehensive prior consultation with confederations, member associations, and other stakeholders before any proposal is made to decision-making bodies. This statement is understood to have the backing of the Saudi Arabian football federation.

Elite clubs, represented by the European Football Clubs organisation, also voiced their unhappiness, noting that FIFA had not consulted them despite a signed memorandum of understanding. The organisation, representing over 850 football clubs, stated it learned about the proposal through the media, without prior warning.

Gianni Infantino released a video addressing the backlash, describing the FIFA Forward Enterprise as a proposal and an opportunity, not an obligation, to “turbocharge the development of the game globally.”

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com