North America’s soccer body on Thursday rejected FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors, joining European nations in opposition.
UEFA member federations agreed Thursday to boycott all FIFA competitions in protest at Gianni Infantino's plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors.
"UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions," the European soccer body said after an urgent online meeting of the 55 members.
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On Thursday, all 41 Concacaf members met and have rejected Gianni Infantino's FIFA Forward Enterprise plans.
“During the meeting," CONCACAF said in a statement, "the membership expressed deep concerns about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal, the artificially short deadline imposed, and the absence of any review or approval by the relevant FIFA governance bodies."
They released the following statement following the meeting.
Concacaf is a confederation united by the love of our game, where football comes first. Guided by this philosophy over the past ten years we have built, from the ground up, an organization founded on service, transparent governance, and the long-term stewardship of football.
History has shown FIFA and the football family what happens when the custodians of the game lose sight of these values.
With this in mind, Concacaf today convened a meeting of the presidents of its 41 Member Associations, together with its President, Council members, and its FIFA Council members, to discuss a proposal developed and presented by the FIFA President to establish ‘FIFA Forward Enterprise’ and sell interests in the FIFA World Cup to private investors.
During the meeting, the membership expressed deep concerns about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal, the artificially short deadline imposed, and the absence of any review or approval by the relevant FIFA governance bodies. In addition, the need for private equity investment to fund new and existing FIFA Forward programs following the most profitable FIFA World Cup in history was questioned.
The discussion reinforced the need for greater transparency and proper governance.
For these reasons, Concacaf and its 41 Member Associations have:Through these actions, Concacaf reaffirms that football's future—and its greatest asset—must remain in the hands of our football family.
- Rejected the proposal;
- Tasked their FIFA Council Members with engaging FIFA to determine how existing vast FIFA reserves could be used to increase FIFA Forward funding for football development across our region; and
- Tasked their FIFA Council Members with instructing the FIFA President to ensure that any matter follows the proper governance processes via staff and FIFA Council, in accordance with the FIFA Statutes.
U.S. Soccer reiterated it's stance on it's social media platforms.
U.S. Soccer stands with CONCACAF and its members. https://t.co/boiyAPQn68
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) July 30, 2026
The strategy meeting was called to counter FIFA president Infantino's offer of $20 million to each of its 211 global members that has to be accepted by mid-September.
Infantino's secret proposal was revealed Tuesday to spin off its commercial operations in a $20 billion operation 20% owned by private investors. The core investor would be a New York investment firm created by Joshua Kushner.
"It is my duty and responsibility as FIFA president to present such game-changing opportunities to you, our members," Infantino wrote in the letter seen by The Associated Press.
The next FIFA competition is in Europe, the Women's Under-20 World Cup hosted by Poland from Sept. 5.
