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UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF Accuse Infantino of 'Deception' over Abandoned World Cup Sale

A demand for a fully independent review raises the prospect of legal document holds, investor scrutiny and a contested FIFA presidential vote in March 2027.

Overview

  • UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF issued a joint open letter on Monday accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino of breaking trust through deception and calling for him to answer for the proposal.
  • Infantino proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise to sell about 20% of World Cup commercial rights for roughly $4.2 billion, then withdrew the plan and apologised for process failures.
  • President Donald Trump publicly backed Infantino on Truth Social, drawing a high‑profile political intervention that compounds reputational concerns because a reported lead investor was linked to Joshua Kushner.
  • FIFA is split: Africa's CAF and many national associations have reaffirmed support for Infantino while UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF have threatened boycotts and issued document‑preservation and legal notices.
  • The three confederations demand an independent third‑party review not run by FIFA, a step that could trigger arbitration, extraordinary congress requests and a wider debate over governance ahead of the March 2027 vote.