Another setback for FIFA president Infantino as AFC, CONCACAF reject World Cup sell-off plan

New Delhi: European countries agreed to boycott all FIFA tournaments, on Thursday, where they “unequivocally reject” the global football body’s president Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to a private equity group.

Infantino’s proposal was later dealt another big blow when North America’s football body Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) joined UEFA in rejecting the plan. The UEFA decision means that several major footballing nations, including World Champions Spain, Germany, France, and England, would not compete in the men’s or women’s World Cups as long as FIFA’s sell-off plan remains active.

“UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions,” UEFA said in a statement. After UEFA’s meeting, the 41-member Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) said that it had also rejected the proposal.

Concacaf members include the hosts of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the United States, Canada and Mexico. The US Football Federation wrote on social media that it stands with Concacaf and its members.

In a strongly worded statement, the AFC then called for an “urgent review” of FIFA’s governance, expressing solidarity with UEFA and Concacaf. It highlighted what it described as “fundamental weaknesses in FIFA’s consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed.”

FIFA defends World Cup stake sale proposal

FIFA has defended its proposal to sell minority stakes in a new commercial entity that would oversee the FIFA World Cup and its other competitions.

“Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each member association has the ability to express its vote based on facts,” FIFA said in a statement.

“FIFA’s commercial activities would remain unchanged. FFE would not be established. Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain,” the statement added.

Earlier this week, President Infantino revealed plans for the sale of a stake in FIFA Forward Enterprises (FFE) that would raise $20 billion in exchange for influence over future World Cups, including broadcasting and commercial deals linked to the tournament.