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See the full story · 14 sourcesWorld Cup boycott tracker: Updated list of nations taking action over Gianni Infantino and FIFA's sale plan originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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The response to FIFA's brazen plan to sell shares in the FIFA World Cup has been swift and aggressive, as multiple groups and entities around the world call on member nations to take firm action against the monetization of the famous global tournament.
That has indeed taken place as at least one leading confederation of FIFA member associations has banded together and issued a firm statement against Gianni Infantino's proposal to create the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
The plan has generated fierce backlash as a bold attempt to generate millions of dollars in cash for the Swiss-based non-profit in exchange for shares in a commercial enterprise with direct links to the World Cup. While FIFA has denied that those financing the deal will not gain any kind of influence on the proceedings of the World Cup or other FIFA tournaments, that claim has been resoundingly rejected by the biggest critics of the plan.
The Sporting News details each confederation's reaction to the FFE plan, with the European governing body setting the tone for others to hopefully follow.
MORE: All the details about Gianni Infantino's plan to spin off World Cup investment shares
What is FIFA's World Cup sale plan?
FIFA has announced a plan to sell a "significant minority stake" to investors via a proposed new commercial enterprise, which will have direct access to the inner workings of football's most famous and globally recognized tournament.
This commercial vehicle will be known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), created by FIFA as a "controlled subsidiary consolidating FIFA's commercial and event operations," according to the governing body's official release.
According to Ziegler's report, the stake to be sold will be around 20%, with investors including banking titan JP Morgan, tech investor Joshua Kushner and others. The entity will be valued at around $20 billion.
According to FIFA's release on the topic, FFE could generate an incredible amount of money for member institutions. FIFA claims it would provide $20 million per member association in immediate funding, plus another $20 million per member for the coming World Cup cycle, with the potential for even more revenue growth. As a designated nonprofit organization, FIFA passes profits to its member associations.
A BBC report on July 29 corroborated the claim of the combined $40 million to each of FIFA's 211 members and added that Infantino has set a September 19 deadline for federations to accept his plans. In a five-page letter sent to FIFA members, federations were told the initial $20 million will be available from January 1, 2027 if they respond positively by the September deadline.
MORE: Sites of future FIFA World Cups
World Cup sale response tracker
Below are everything we know on all confederations and their member institutions regarding their stance the plan to create the FIFA Forward Enterprise.
Who has threatened to boycott the World Cup?
UEFA have threatened to boycott the FIFA World Cup
CONCACAF have not threatened to boycott the FIFA World Cup, but did reject the FFE plan
AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC have not yet responded to the proposal
UEFA nations first to declare they will withdraw from World Cups
UEFA president Aleksandar Ceferin has been an outspoken critic of Gianni Infantino and FIFA for years, and so it was no surprise that the European governing body was the first to act swiftly in the aftermath of the release of the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan.
After an emergency meeting of all 55 UEFA member nations on July 30, the European governing body announced it would not participate in any FIFA competition as long as Infantino's proposed investment plan was tabled.
"UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one," said UEFA in a statement released jointly by all member nations. "We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA's proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors."
The statement confirmed that until FIFA contractually agrees to withdraw from this proposal and never to revive it at any time, UEFA nations would not participate in any of its tournaments.
"As a result of today's discussion, 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," the statement said.
MORE: All details of UEFA's plan to boycott the men's and women's World Cup tournaments
CONCACAF holding emergency meeting
In the wake of UEFA's statement, CONCACAF reportedly also decided to convene all 41 member nations for an emergency meeting to discuss their response to FIFA's proposal, according to Adam Crafton of The Athletic .
Previously, the North and Central American confederation had also released a statement expressing concern for Infantino's FIFA Forward Enterprise plan. However, this statement did little to condemn the substance of the plan, instead mostly expressing concern for the process by which it was compiled.
"CONCACAF was only made aware of this matter through media reports and, subsequently, via a media release," the governing body said on July 29. "We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process.
"We share the disappointment of many within our region and the game that this level of detail has been designed and shared publicly before any discussion with the relevant governance bodies and stakehol...
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