UEFA to hold emergency meeting in response to FIFA's controversial World Cup plans

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FT Desk

UEFA will hold an emergency meeting to discuss the European body's response to FIFA's controversial World Cup plans.

This week, it was reported that FIFA President Gianni Infantino was proposing to sell shares in the World Cup to private investors.

FIFA is reportedly considering a major overhaul of how its biggest competitions are run by creating a separate commercial company to oversee events such as the men's World Cup, the Women's World Cup and the Club World Cup. The proposal has sparked fears that bringing in private investors could increase pressure to expand these tournaments even further or stage them more frequently than the current four-year cycle.

There are also concerns that more commercially lucrative locations would be targeted, rather than rotating the tournament in every continent.

Under the reported model, FIFA would retain majority control of the new business, while outside investors would be allowed to purchase up to a 30% share. The remaining 20% would be divided equally among FIFA's 211 member associations, each of which would have the option of holding onto its stake or selling it.

The reports also claim Infantino is expected to take over as commissioner of the new company once his final term as president ends. Infantino is currently expected to remain in office until 2031 and, as things stand, faces no challenger for re-election.

The next day, it emerged that FIFA were offering $40m to member nations should they accept the deal. If they don't, the nations will only receive $10m.

Following publication of the report by The Times, UEFA responded with a strongly worded statement condemning the proposal.

"This crosses a line that football's governing institutions should never cross," UEFA said.

"UEFA takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game.

"The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade - especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA's to sell."

UEFA are to discuss a response to the proposals on Thursday and BBC Sport reports that pulling every European nation out of the World Cup is not off the table.

The Premier League is a founder member of the European Leagues and fully supports this statement. https://t.co/UYEWydSD8i

— Premier League (@premierleague) July 29, 2026

Former English Football Association and Manchester City chairman David Bernstein said England must "withdraw" from the World Cup if FIFA's proposals go through.

"The whole thing is absolutely dreadful," Bernstein told BBC Radio 4.

"It's totally unacceptable. It feels [like] cronyism, nepotism. It sort of stinks, frankly."

Three out of the four teams in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup were from UEFA and to lose those nations would be extremely damaging for FIFA.

In a video released by FIFA on Wednesday, Infantino defended this plans, calling them "an offer, not an obligation".

"It's part of a democratic process - a consultation process - and, above all, it is an opportunity but not an obligation," he added.

"It is a golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally."

The proposals from Infantino have received almost universal condemnation, including from the English, Italian, Spanish and German Football Associations, UEFA, Concacaf, the AFC and FifPro.

The European Leagues organisation said FIFA's proposals were "a reckless and divisive development for world football".

"The World Cup should not be for sale. It is not the FIFA president's private equity asset," a statement read.