Gianni Infantino wanted to sell 20% of the World Cup business to private investors. He offered up to 20 million dollars to each federation, with the promise of reaching 86 million in 12 years. It seemed like a deal impossible to refuse.
But on Thursday, July 30, 2026, in an emergency videoconference meeting, UEFA’s 55 federations said no, all together, without exception. And they went further: they threatened to boycott every tournament organized by FIFA, including the World Cups, if Infantino insists on the plan. CONCACAF, with its 41 members, also rejected the proposal, although without going as far as a boycott. Even Carlos Cordeiro, FIFA’s senior adviser, resigned and called the project “a bad deal for football”.
FIFA responded the following day that “no one is selling football” and that it would continue with consultations. But with Europe, Asia, and much of the Americas questioning the plan, Infantino was increasingly left alone defending his idea.