CONCACAF has joined UEFA in opposing FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s controversial proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup’s commercial rights, dealing a major blow to the plans.
Following an emergency meeting on Thursday, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) confirmed its 41 member associations had rejected the proposal, citing concerns over the process behind the plan.
The decision comes after UEFA announced that its 55 member nations would boycott all FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, unless the proposal is abandoned.
CONCACAF, whose members include 2026 World Cup co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico, said it had “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.”
The United States Soccer Federation also backed the confederation’s position, stating it “stands with CONCACAF and its members”.
Infantino continues to push commercial route
Infantino unveiled plans earlier this week to sell a stake in FIFA Forward Enterprises (FFE), a move that would reportedly raise $20 billion in exchange for influence over future World Cup broadcasting and commercial rights.
The proposal, backed by investment firm Thrive Capital, founded by Joshua Kushner, would generate more than $80 million for each of FIFA’s 211 member associations between now and 2037. FIFA members have until September 19 to vote on the proposal.
UEFA had already taken the unprecedented step of threatening to boycott all FIFA competitions while the proposal remains active.
In a statement, European football’s governing body said: “UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions.”
It added: “Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will.”
UEFA also criticised what it described as a lack of meaningful consultation, calling the process “a profound failure of leadership” by FIFA.
The growing opposition has also spread to Asia. Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa warned member associations that FIFA’s actions risked undermining continental football and suggested the proposal could not succeed without the backing of all six continental confederations.
