A united front in Europe
European football’s governing bodies have signaled a decisive break with FIFA, declaring that they will not participate in any tournaments organized by the world governing body until its leadership abandons a controversial plan to monetize the World Cup through private equity investment.
At the heart of the dispute is a proposal championed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has outlined a scheme to allocate $20 million to each of FIFA’s 211 member associations while spinning off the organization’s commercial activities into a $20 billion subsidiary. The bulk of that subsidiary would be owned by a New York‑based investment vehicle created by Joshua Kushner, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from UEFA officials.
Critics within European football argue that the plan diverts the World Cup — a competition they view as a public trust — into the hands of investors whose primary motive is profit. They also point to FIFA’s multi‑billion‑dollar reserves, which they say should be directed toward development programs rather than private returns.
The controversy extends beyond Europe, with former U.S. president Donald Trump and his son‑in‑law Jared Kushner having been linked to the broader financial ecosystem surrounding the proposal, though the exact nature of their involvement remains unclear.
The immediate fallout will be felt at the upcoming Women’s Under‑20 World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by Poland from September 5, an event that will now proceed without UEFA’s participation.