The Washington Times

UEFA maintains World Cup boycott threat after Gianni Infantinos crisis meeting

Guardian

Uefa maintains that World Cup boycott still stands despite Infantinos apology

ESPN

UEFA stands by World Cup boycott plans despite FIFA, Gianni Infantino apology

The Athletic

UEFA doubles down on World Cup boycott threat despite FIFA U-turn, Gianni Infantino apology

Al Jazeera

UEFA says FIFA boycott remains despite Infantino World Cup selloff U-turn

Financial Times

Uefa doubles down on World Cup boycott in effort to oust Gianni Infantino

Daily Mail

UEFA ramp up pressure on defiant Gianni Infantino and insist they WILL boycott the World Cup if he refuses to quit - after under-fire FIFA president vowed to fight on

The Telegraph

Uefa hell-bent on forcing Infantino out as Fifa split emerges

Sky News

UEFA warns FIFA World Cup boycott still stands - despite Infantino apology

LuisFigo

Inside FIFA

FIFA leadership holds constructive and positive meeting in Rabat, Morocco

Metaculus

Breakaway Soccer League by 2030

UEFA maintained its threat to boycott FIFA competitions on Thursday, saying the conditions for lifting the boycott had not been met, despite FIFA's apology following <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/fifas-infantino-to-convene-executive-meeting">a crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco</a>. The first potential test of the boycott is the Women's Under-20 World Cup, set to begin in Poland on Sept. 5.

UEFA maintained its threat to boycott FIFA competitions on Thursday, saying the conditions for lifting the boycott had not been met, despite FIFA's apology following a crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco. The first potential test of the boycott is the Women's Under-20 World Cup, set to begin in Poland on Sept. 5.

UEFA's 55 member associations had <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/nation-uefa-boycotts-fifa-world-cups-over-b-subsidiary">voted unanimously to withdraw from all FIFA events</a> after FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/fifa-plans-b-subsidiary-uefa-threatens-boycott">plans to sell minority stakes in World Cups</a> and other competitions through a commercial subsidiary. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/fifa-scraps-b-world-cup-selloff-plan">Infantino later abandoned the proposal</a> amid widespread condemnation.

UEFA's 55 member associations had voted unanimously to withdraw from all FIFA events after FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced plans to sell minority stakes in World Cups and other competitions through a commercial subsidiary. Infantino later abandoned the proposal amid widespread condemnation.

FIFA's plan would have raised roughly $4 billion by selling a 20% stake in a new commercial entity to private investors. Concacaf, the Asian Football Confederation and several UEFA member associations, including the English FA, the Football Association of Wales and the Serbian Football Federation, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/soccer-football-associations-withdraw-support-for-infantinos-fifa-reelection">withdrew their support for Infantino</a>.

FIFA's plan would have raised roughly $4 billion by selling a 20% stake in a new commercial entity to private investors. Concacaf, the Asian Football Confederation and several UEFA member associations, including the English FA, the Football Association of Wales and the Serbian Football Federation, withdrew their support for Infantino.

After FIFA's crisis meeting on Wednesday, Infantino and Secretary-General Mattias Grafström wrote to FIFA's 211 member associations apologizing for "errors" in the now-scrapped commercialization plan. Notable absentees from the summit included Arsène Wenger, Jill Ellis, Sarai Bareman and Kevin Lamour.

After FIFA's crisis meeting on Wednesday, Infantino and Secretary-General Mattias Grafström wrote to FIFA's 211 member associations apologizing for "errors" in the now-scrapped commercialization plan. Notable absentees from the summit included Arsène Wenger, Jill Ellis, Sarai Bareman and Kevin Lamour.

However, the global players' union FIFPro condemned the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal as "a profound abuse of presidential power" and demanded legally binding engagement with professional football's stakeholders on major decisions, as well as voting rights on the FIFA Council.

However, the global players' union FIFPro condemned the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal as "a profound abuse of presidential power" and demanded legally binding engagement with professional football's stakeholders on major decisions, as well as voting rights on the FIFA Council.

Infantino, who faces re-election in March, would need a simple majority of FIFA's 211 member associations to win another term. A vote of no confidence could be triggered if one-fifth of FIFA's 211 members request an extraordinary Congress meeting.

Infantino, who faces re-election in March, would need a simple majority of FIFA's 211 member associations to win another term. A vote of no confidence could be triggered if one-fifth of FIFA's 211 members request an extraordinary Congress meeting.

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UEFA maintained its boycott threat against FIFA competitions on Thursday, saying conditions for lifting it had not been met, despite FIFA's apology following a crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco. The first potential test of the boycott is the Women's Under-20 World Cup, set to begin in Poland on Sept. 5.

UEFA maintained its boycott threat against FIFA competitions on Thursday, saying conditions for lifting it had not been met, despite FIFA's apology following a crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco. The first potential test of the boycott is the Women's Under-20 World Cup, set to begin in Poland on Sept. 5.

UEFA's 55 member associations voted unanimously to withdraw from all FIFA events after FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced plans to sell minority stakes in World Cups and other competitions through a commercial subsidiary. Infantino later abandoned the proposal amid widespread condemnation.

UEFA's 55 member associations voted unanimously to withdraw from all FIFA events after FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced plans to sell minority stakes in World Cups and other competitions through a commercial subsidiary. Infantino later abandoned the proposal amid widespread condemnation.

FIFA held an emergency meeting of senior leadership in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, after which Infantino and Secretary-General Mattias Grafström wrote to FIFA's 211 member associations apologizing for "errors" in the now-scrapped commercialization plan. Notable absentees from the summit included Arsène Wenger, Jill Ellis, Sarai Bareman and Kevin Lamour.

FIFA held an emergency meeting of senior leadership in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, after which Infantino and Secretary-General Mattias Grafström wrote to FIFA's 211 member associations apologizing for "errors" in the now-scrapped commercialization plan. Notable absentees from the summit included Arsène Wenger, Jill Ellis, Sarai Bareman and Kevin Lamour.

FIFA's plan would have raised roughly $4 billion by selling a 20% stake in a new commercial entity to private investors. Concacaf, the Asian Football Confederation and several UEFA member associations, including the English FA, the Football Association of Wales and the Serbian Football Federation, withdrew their support for Infantino.

Global players union FIFPro condemned the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal as "a profound abuse of presidential power" and demanded legally binding engagement with professional football's stakeholders on major decisions, as well as voting rights on the FIFA Council.

Global players union FIFPro condemned the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal as "a profound abuse of presidential power" and demanded legally binding engagement with professional football's stakeholders on major decisions, as well as voting rights on the FIFA Council.

Infantino, who faces re-election in March, would need a simple majority of FIFA's 211 member associations to win another term. A vote of no confidence could be triggered if one-fifth of FIFA's 211 members request an extraordinary Congress meeting, though convening one could take up to three months.

Infantino, who faces re-election in March, would need a simple majority of FIFA's 211 member associations to win another term. A vote of no confidence could be triggered if one-fifth of FIFA's 211 members request an extraordinary Congress meeting, though convening one could take up to three months.

FIFA's apology over the World Cup sell-off plan doesn't go nearly far enough — Infantino has lied, deceived and tried to profit at the game's expense, and he needs to resign now. UEFA is right to hold the boycott because real assurances that this kind of power grab will never happen again simply haven't been delivered. A statement of support from people whose careers depend on Infantino's favor means absolutely nothing.

FIFA's apology over the World Cup sell-off plan doesn't go nearly far enough — Infantino has lied, deceived and tried to profit at the game's expense, and he needs to resign now. UEFA is right to hold the boycott because real assurances that this kind of power grab will never happen again simply haven't been delivered. A statement of support from people whose careers depend on Infantino's favor means absolutely nothing.

Luís Figo

FIFA's leadership has owned its mistakes, withdrawn the controversial proposal and reaffirmed a commitment to stronger governance and transparency going forward. The Rabat meeting produced real accountability — an apology was sent directly to all 211 member associations with a pledge to prevent the same errors from recurring. Attacking FIFA's integrity at this moment only undermines the unified effort needed to prepare for major events ahead.

FIFA's leadership has owned its mistakes, withdrawn the controversial proposal and reaffirmed a commitment to stronger governance and transparency going forward. The Rabat meeting produced real accountability — an apology was sent directly to all 211 member associations with a pledge to prevent the same errors from recurring. Attacking FIFA's integrity at this moment only undermines the unified effort needed to prepare for major events ahead.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup

UEFA maintains World Cup boycott

Sports

FIFA's leadership has owned its mistakes, withdrawn the controversial proposal and reaffirmed a commitment to stronger governance and transparency going forward. The Rabat meeting produced real accountability — an apology was sent directly to all 211 member associations with a pledge to prevent the same errors from recurring. Attacking FIFA's integrity at this moment only undermines the unified effort needed to prepare for upcoming major events.

FIFA's leadership has owned its mistakes, withdrawn the controversial proposal and reaffirmed a commitment to stronger governance and transparency going forward. The Rabat meeting produced real accountability — an apology was sent directly to all 211 member associations with a pledge to prevent the same errors from recurring. Attacking FIFA's integrity at this moment only undermines the unified effort needed to prepare for upcoming major events.

There's a 10% chance that there will be a breakaway European Soccer League match before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 10% chance that there will be a breakaway European Soccer League match before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

UEFA Holds Boycott Threat Despite FIFA Apology

UEFA maintainsHolds WorldBoycott CupThreat boycottDespite FIFA Apology

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