UEFA has contacted FIFA demanding a response by Nov. 2 to 42 questions about Gianni Infantino's failed plan to raise $20 billion through a partial sell-off of the World Cup. The questions also cover the overturning of a red card for USMNT forward Folarin Balogun during the 2026 tournament and the decision to create a FIFA Peace Prize for United States President Donald Trump.
The letter, dated Oct. 19 from UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis to FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafström and seen by ESPN, cites "serious concerns" about the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project and FIFA's governance and decision-making. UEFA had threatened to boycott all FIFA competitions after Infantino tried to sell World Cup rights to Thrive Capital, a private equity firm led by Josh Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner. UEFA withdrew the threat after FIFA assured it the FFE plan would not be repeated, but it continues to oppose Infantino's bid for reelection in March 2027.
The letter asks who granted Thrive Capital exclusivity without consulting the FIFA Council, when and by whom FFE was first proposed, and what President Trump requested of Infantino during a phone call about overturning Balogun's red card. Theodoridis wrote that explanations so far have not satisfactorily addressed fundamental questions from Council members, and that requested information and documents have not been provided.
UEFA also said FIFA's public statement, which noted the withdrawal of FFE, an acknowledgement of mistakes and possible governance reforms, does not explain how the decisions were made or why the Council was not involved. Nominations for the FIFA presidency close on Nov. 18, and the election will be held at the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco, on March 18, 2027. Infantino has yet to face a confirmed challenger.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing