U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold the FIFA World Cup trophy before handing over to captain Rodri of Spain at the award ceremony following the FIFA World Cup 2026 final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Photo by Carl Recine / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP.
European football’s governing body UEFA said Thursday it would boycott the World Cup should FIFA press ahead with its private investor plan.
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“No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” UEFA said in a statement.
“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product… No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.”
