UEFA Slams FIFA for New Private‑Investment Plan

Thu Sep 24 2026 01:54:04 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

UEFA angrily rejects FIFA’s proposal to bring in private capital for the World Cup, warning the move crosses a line football governance never crosses.

UEFA has condemned FIFA’s plan to secure private investments for football development, including the 2026 World Cup, calling the proposal a breach of sport’s governing principles. FIFA aims to raise over £10 billion for development, a figure critics say could funnel hefty sums into private hands. UEFA’s statement insists that football’s owners are not the owners of the sport itself and that the World Cup is not for sale. The clash highlights deeper tensions over the balance between growth, commercialization, and control of football’s biggest prize.

UEFA Slams FIFA for New Private‑Investment Plan

UEFA has fired back at FIFA’s latest proposal to bring in private capital for its flagship competitions, including the 2026 World Cup.

According to screenshots from the Financial Times and the Times, FIFA head Gianni Infantino intends to raise a development budget of over £10 billion, a figure that critics say could channel huge sums directly into the hands of private investors at the expense of national associations.

“This crosses a line football’s governing institutions should never cross,” UEFA said in a statement, adding that "none of us are the owners of football" and that the World Cup "is not FIFA’s to sell."

UEFA’s reaction underscores growing tensions between the European body and the global federation over the balance between growth and commercialization, as well as the control of the sport’s biggest prize.