Gianni Infantino’s plan to privatise Fifa’s competitions has suffered a decisive setback after Uefa confirmed it will boycott the World Cup and all other Fifa tournaments if the proposals are approved at the vote on 19 September. The move follows a wave of opposition from football’s governing bodies, with the Asian Football Confederation joining Uefa and Concacaf in publicly rejecting the scheme, while Fifa’s own leadership faces internal rebellion.
Uefa’s ultimatum and the unravelling of Infantino’s support
Uefa’s executive committee convened on Thursday and issued a formal resolution: if Infantino’s plan to establish Fifa Forward Enterprise and transfer ownership stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to external investors is ratified, European football’s governing body will withdraw from all Fifa competitions. The ultimatum marks a dramatic escalation in the standoff, with Uefa president Aleksander Čeferin declaring that the proposals “undermine the integrity of football” and risk turning Fifa into a commercial entity rather than a sporting one.
The Czech Football Association became the latest European federation to abandon its initial backing for Infantino’s plan. David Trunda, the Czech FA president, had been the sole European leader to publicly endorse the privatisation scheme, but after an emergency meeting of his executive, he reversed his position. Trunda’s U-turn leaves Infantino without a single European ally among national associations, while the Asian Football Confederation has now joined Uefa and Concacaf in rejecting the proposals outright. The AFC’s statement on Friday accused Infantino of “degrading the principles of fair governance” and warned that confidence in Fifa’s leadership has been “undermined.”
Internal fractures deepen as Infantino’s advisers defect
The pressure on Infantino is not confined to external federations. Carlos Cordeiro, his long-serving adviser and a senior figure within Fifa, resigned in protest over the privatisation plan, describing it as a “fundamental departure from Fifa’s mission.” The move follows criticism from Fifa’s chief operating officer, who accused Infantino of “deceiving” staff about the scale and implications of the proposals. With the consultation period still ongoing, the defection of a trusted insider underscores the depth of dissent within Fifa’s ranks.
Donald Trump’s intervention has added another layer of political intrigue. Speaking to reporters on Friday, the former US president denied any involvement in the affair, stating he had not spoken to Infantino about the sell-off plans despite their well-documented relationship. The claim is notable given that Josh Kushner, brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, is expected to lead the investor group bidding for stakes in Fifa’s competitions. Trump’s denial suggests the proposal has become a liability even among its supposed political allies.
The vote looms, but Infantino’s path to victory narrows
Fifa has attempted to downplay the crisis, insisting in a statement that “nobody is selling football” and vowing to proceed with its consultation process ahead of the 19 September vote. Yet the growing coalition of opposition—spanning Uefa, Concacaf, the AFC, and now the Czech FA—has made it increasingly unlikely that Infantino will secure the necessary support. The boycott threat from Uefa alone would devastate the commercial and sporting value of the World Cup, while the defection of key advisers and the erosion of trust within Fifa’s own ranks further weaken his position.
The question now is whether Infantino will withdraw the proposals before the vote or attempt to salvage them through last-minute concessions. With Čeferin and other federation leaders refusing to engage in further dialogue until the privatisation plan is scrapped, the Fifa president faces a stark choice: back down or risk presiding over a fractured organisation that has lost the confidence of its members.
What comes next hinges on whether Infantino recognises the scale of the rebellion. The boycott threat from Uefa is not an empty warning; European football generates the vast majority of Fifa’s revenue, and without it, the World Cup would lose its global prestige. Infantino’s advisers have already deserted him, federations have turned against him, and even political allies are distancing themselves. The 19 September vote may yet be postponed or abandoned, but the damage to Infantino’s authority is already done. Football’s governing body now stands at a crossroads—one where the choice is between reform and irrelevance.
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