European soccer governing body UEFA says it will boycott World Cup competitions over FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plan to inject private money.

UEFA has warned FIFA that it may take legal action over Gianni Infantino’s abandoned plan to bring private investors into a company controlling future World Cup business.

After Gianni Infantino decided to scrap his plan of selling stakes in the World Cup to private investors, UEFA said it's lost confidence in the FIFA leader.

FIFA said Wednesday it had apologized to its member associations for mistakes made about its abandoned proposal to sell commercial rights linked to the World Cup, as the governing body’s leadership reaffirmed its support for president Gianni Infantino after a crisis meeting in Morocco.

FIFA has faced backlash from global soccer governing bodies over the proposal to allow private investment.

This is an updated version of an article that first appeared on The Athletic in May 2025. For an insight into the one-upmanship between FIFA, the world football governing body, and UEFA, its European counterpart,

UEFA’s secret plans for a “Global Nations League” have been leaked, positioning it as a rival to the World Cup amid growing pressure for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, whose future is hanging in the balance following a wave of nations withdrawing their support.

The Asian Football Confederation has joined the North, Central America and Caribbean football association and UEFA in opposition to FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors.