Infantino World Cup revamp triggers English boycott calls as FA pushes UEFA crisis talks

England fans are urging a boycott of future World Cups and the Football Association is driving a coordinated European response after FIFA president Gianni Infantino put forward a radical restructuring plan that critics say threatens the integrity of the tournament.

European football’s growing anger centres on proposals for a new company, “FIFA Forward Enterprise”, that would take over the operational management of FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and the Club World Cup. FIFA would retain a majority stake, while between 20% and 30% of shares would be opened up to private investors – a move expected to generate billions of dollars.

UEFA is preparing an emergency meeting to discuss the plan, with reports suggesting Europe’s national associations could even consider a joint boycott of the World Cup if the project goes ahead in its current form.

The FA is at the forefront of the opposition inside UEFA and says it is “deeply concerned” about what it describes as a lack of process, governance and transparency around how the project has been developed. The mounting criticism adds to the pressure on Infantino as resistance to his blueprint spreads across Europe.

Money, shares and a 53‐day deadline

Under the proposal, each of FIFA’s 211 member associations would be given a share allocation valued at about £15m, which they would be free either to keep or to sell. In addition, any association that approves the plan within a 53‐day window would receive an exceptional one-off payment of £30m.

Reports also say Infantino intends to push for the men’s World Cup to be staged every two years instead of every four, with an expanded 64-team finals. The idea has provoked fierce criticism from fans and prominent football figures who argue it would dilute the competition’s uniqueness.

Among the potential investors linked to the project is American businessman Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former United States president Donald Trump. The connection has intensified scrutiny of the scheme and further fuelled controversy around FIFA’s direction under Infantino.

English fans warn of ‘end of the World Cup’

The Sun highlighted a series of outspoken reactions from England supporters, several of whom followed Gareth Southgate’s side in the United States during the last World Cup.

England fan Simon Harris, who travelled to watch the national team at the tournament, said: “This will be the end of the World Cup. FIFA is destroying football by selling the soul of the game for money.”

He added: “UEFA must pull its countries out of FIFA and boycott the next World Cup – that’s the only way to force FIFA to come to its senses. This is all about making more money for FIFA and Infantino.”

Harris also condemned the reported Trump family links to potential investors: “The fact there are Trump family connections with a body that could be running the World Cup makes it even worse. Infantino must be stopped.”

Steve Hartshorn, a high-profile England fan who says he has not missed a national team game for 14 years, called for the FIFA president to be removed.

“He has to be taken out of his position. He acts as if he is untouchable and UEFA has to stand up to him. The FA should also set up a system that runs football properly,” he said.

“Having a World Cup every two years with 64 teams would be completely ridiculous; the special thing about the tournament is that it only happens every four years.”

Manchester City supporter Mike Andrews, who also followed England in the United States, accused FIFA of putting profit before supporters.

“FIFA is ripping the World Cup away from the fans when it lets a commercial entity run the tournament to make even more money. All of this is down to FIFA’s greed,” he said.

‘Reeks of corruption’

Former FA chairman and ex-Manchester City chairman David Bernstein issued one of the strongest condemnations, saying England should be prepared to withdraw from the World Cup if the proposals are implemented.

“The whole thing is appalling. It looks like cronyism and favouritism and, frankly, it reeks of corruption,” he said.

The FA, for its part, stressed it had not been consulted in advance. In a formal statement, it said: “We were not aware of this proposal at all and do not have any substantive details. Based on the limited information available, we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance that has brought the project to this stage. When FIFA presents the proposal in full and in a transparent way, as it has promised, we will set out our position.”

UEFA has also attacked the scheme, accusing FIFA of seeking to use football “to enrich itself and its friends”. A source within UEFA was quoted as saying: “There is a huge amount of anger about this plan, because the future of football is at stake.”

Despite the widening backlash, Europe is not yet fully united. Czech FA president D avid Trunda has suggested the proposals might have “positive effects”, while both CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation have complained that they were not consulted before the project was brought forward.