A fresh power struggle has erupted at the top of world football after UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA competitions over Gianni Infantino's controversial new commercial plans.FIFA has announced proposals to create FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new company that would manage the commercial side of its competitions, including broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing rights.UEFA has rejected a FIFA plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors after president Gianni Infantino unveiled a proposal on Tuesday to create a $20 billion company running the World Cup.More: https://t.co/8whVljV6aL pic.twitter.com/qcbzLnlBBv— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 28, 2026 Under the proposal, FIFA would sell minority, non-controlling stakes in the business to outside investors, raising to $4.2 billion while valuing the new entity at around $20 billion.FIFA insists the move would not affect its control over the sport and says the additional revenue could generate more than $10 billion for football development over the next four years, with increased funding for all 211 member associations.UEFA, however, sees the proposal very differently.In a strongly worded statement, European football's governing body said FIFA had "crossed a line", insisting that "the soul and governance of football are not assets to trade."UEFA statement on The Times article: ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ye1tjfWRCb— UEFA (@UEFA) July 28, 2026 The disagreement has quickly escalated, with European football associations expected to hold an emergency meeting this week. According to reports, several federations are prepared to discuss using the threat of a boycott if FIFA presses ahead with the project.The row has further strained an already fragile relationship between FIFA and UEFA. Tensions had been simmering throughout the World Cup, with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin even skipping the final in protest over broader governance issues.##NAJAVA_MECA_9868179##FIFA has defended the proposal, arguing that outside investment would be limited to a commercial subsidiary and would have no influence over football's rules, competitions or the international calendar.Infantino described the project as a way to "democratise football worldwide", insisting the sport's growing commercial success should benefit every corner of the game rather than a select few.Whether that argument convinces UEFA remains to be seen, but one thing is already clear: football's biggest governing bodies are heading for another high-stakes showdown, and the fallout could reshape the sport's future far beyond the World Cup.
63