UEFA to boycott World Cups over Infantino’s Kushner-backed deal
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- UEFA announced it and its 55 national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions if Infantino's funding deal is approved, citing lack of consultation and transparency.
- FIFA plans to sell a 20% stake in a subsidiary company set up to run its competitions, including the World Cup, with funding expected from private investors such as Joshua Kushner.
- Concacaf rejected the proposals, with all 41 of its member associations opposing the plan, signaling broad regional resistance beyond Europe.
- Debbie Hewitt, FIFA vice-president and Football Association chair, opposed the plan at UEFA’s emergency meeting, with the FA declaring it stands 'shoulder to shoulder' with UEFA.
- Mike Mulraney, Scottish FA president and chair of FIFA's finance committee, stated the Scottish FA 'agrees unequivocally' with UEFA’s position, underscoring internal FIFA dissent.
- Laura McAllister, UEFA vice-president, warned that nations like Wales could miss their first Women's World Cup qualification, emphasizing that FIFA created the crisis, not UEFA.
- David Bernstein, former FA chairman, said Infantino would likely be ousted in a normal organization but noted FIFA’s unique politics may let him survive with enough association support.
Why it matters: FIFA risks losing its most powerful confederation and the commercial viability of its flagship tournaments, while European nations face exclusion from World Cups—putting $40bn in projected revenue and decades of global football unity at stake if the deal proceeds.
