European teams weigh World Cup boycott over FIFA plan

European national teams are reportedly considering a boycott of a future World Cup amid growing opposition to an alleged FIFA plan to sell stakes in the tournament to private investors.

The controversy centres on FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who, according to reports cited by The Times and Sky News, wants to place the World Cup into a company structure that would control both national-team and club competitions organised by FIFA. The proposal has triggered a fierce response from UEFA and raised the prospect of a major split at the top of world football.

Reports of a new FIFA structure spark backlash

According to the source material, Infantino’s idea would involve turning the World Cup into a company open to private investment. The concern among critics is not only about ownership, but also about the pressure such a model could create on the football calendar.

There are fears that FIFA events could be expanded further or staged more frequently than the current four-year cycle if commercial demands begin to shape decision-making more directly. One of the investors linked to the plan in the reporting is Joshua Kushner, who is described as having close ties to Donald Trump.

The Times also reported that the arrangement could bring Infantino a personal financial windfall if he were to lead the new company, with earnings potentially far above his current FIFA salary.

UEFA’s warning over the future of football

UEFA has already made clear that it views the issue as a serious threat. In a statement relayed by journalist Ben Jacobs, European football’s governing body said the matter crossed a line that football institutions should never cross.

UEFA’s position, as cited in the source material, is that football’s soul and authority are not commodities to be traded, particularly without transparency over who stands to benefit financially.

The strength of that language underlines how sensitive the issue has become. UEFA’s criticism goes beyond a routine disagreement with FIFA and instead frames the matter as a battle over control, governance and the long-term direction of the sport.

Boycott threat adds to pressure on Infantino

The most dramatic development is the suggestion, reported by Rob Harris of Sky News, that European national teams are weighing a boycott if Infantino does not abandon the plan.

That would represent a significant escalation. Public criticism from supporters, leagues or confederations is one thing; the possibility of national associations refusing to take part in the World Cup would create a direct challenge to FIFA’s authority.

An extraordinary meeting of UEFA members is expected this week, with the aim of forming a united response against Infantino. The source material also says Dariusz Mioduski, the current owner of Legia Warsaw, could emerge as a rival candidate to the Swiss official in the next election.

A defining dispute for FIFA and UEFA

The dispute appears to have intensified because the alleged plans were not openly discussed before emerging in the media. According to the source, FIFA did not raise the subject during meetings held before the final of this year’s World Cup.

That lack of transparency has only sharpened the reaction in Europe. For UEFA and the federations now said to be considering their next move, the issue is no longer just about tournament economics. It is about whether the game’s biggest competition can be reshaped by private capital without a broader consensus across football.

If the reported boycott discussions gather momentum, the standoff between FIFA and Europe could become one of the most consequential governance battles the sport has faced in recent years.