World Cup boycott latest: Uefa confirm action with statement slamming Gianni Infantino sell-off plan

World Cup 2030 group stages

Group A: Argentina, Ecuador, Jordan, Mali

Group B: Uruguay, Australia, Cape Verde, Burkina Faso

Group C: Paraguay, Panama, Ghana, Honduras

Group D: Morocco, Egypt, Curacao, United Arab Emirates

Group E: South Korea, South Africa, Peru, Uganda

Group F: Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, Bolivia

Group G: Colombia, Tunisia, Nigeria, Oman

Group H: United States, Ivory Coast, Congo DR, Guinea

Group I: Japan, Uzbekistan, Cameroon, Syria

Group J: Senegal, Qatar, Venezuela, Gabon

Group K: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Angola

Group L: Brazil, Algeria, Haiti, Jamaica

Would Fifa press on with a 48-team World Cup without European teams? Let’s not forget that Infantino suggested that Fifa would look at expanding the World Cup to 64 teams in 2030. We also don’t know yet whether Uefa’s boycott would be replicated by other federations, such as Asia and North America.

But a 48-team World Cup, ridiculously staged in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Morocco, and comprised by removing European teams from this summer’s tournament and replacing them directing with the next-best teams from the Fifa rankings, could look something like this…

Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter launched a scathing attack on the world football governing body’s plans to create a $20 billion subsidiary to manage the World Cup, insisting the tournament is not a commercial asset to be controlled by a select few executives.

“Football belongs to no individual and to no institution. It belongs to the people,” Blatter, 90, told Reuters. “If Fifa were transferred into a profit-oriented corporate structure, it would lose its soul.”

Australia’s professional footballers’ union has sharply criticised Fifa’s contentious plan to introduce private investors into the World Cup and other major tournaments, accusing the governing body of sidelining players and fans while pressuring member associations to approve the proposal.

Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) declared that the sport is facing “a battle for its soul” as commercial interests increasingly seek to influence its most prestigious competitions.

“The PFA is disturbed by the lack of transparency surrounding the proposal and the absence of meaningful consultation with those that generate the value that Fifa is seeking to exploit – the players and the fans,” the union stated in a scathing release.

“At a time when football desperately requires greater transparency, accountability and good governance, proposals of this significance raise questions about who the game is run by and in whose interests. These tournaments should not be for sale.”

Not even Gianni Infantino’s inner circle or closest advisors at Fifa knew about his privatisation project – and were angered when the news emerged.

Many in football suspect that this plan was developed with financial interests connected to the wider Donald Trump family over the last year, explaining Josh Kushner’s current proximity.

Concacaf, which governs football in North and Central America, has roundly condemned Fifa’s proposals in a strong statement.

It concluded: “Concacaf and its 41 Member Associations have:

– Tasked their Fifa Council Members with engaging Fifa to determine how existing 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.

“Through these actions, Concacaf reaffirms that football’s future—and its greatest asset—must remain in the hands of our football family.”

Last night, Fifa published a video where Gianni Infantino described his controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup as a “proposal” and “not an obligation”.

Fifa members who vote through Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell the World Cup to investors will get $40m. Vote it down, and it’s just $10m. Here, chief sports writer Lawrence Ostlere dissects the pitch football can’t refuse – and how Uefa are pushing back – in this week’s Inside Football newsletter:

The Scottish Football Association has “unequivocally” backed Uefa’s declaration that all European nations will boycott the World Cup until Fifa drops its controversial plans.

The SFA’s statement read: “The Scottish FA Board agrees unequivocally with the concerns raised by all (UEFA) members over the manner in which these proposals have been issued, and deadline set, without a full consultation process or consideration to good governance.

“The Board is fully supportive of the statement issued by UEFA following the meeting. We are also aligned with our fellow national associations who seek to ensure our collective voice is heard resoundingly, and that the Corinthian spirit which underpins the beautiful game – invented here in Scotland and shared with the world – is protected.”