European World Cup boycott pledge strikes blow against FIFA’s investment plan

Gianni Infantino has publicly backed the plan, with an investor group led by Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared, waiting in the wings to secure a minority stake in the new venture. Pic: Bradley Collyer/PA

FIFA’s plans to sell off stakes in a World Cup company to private investors appear in tatters after European nations pledged to boycott all its competitions until the project is scrapped.

UEFA reacted furiously when the plans to create FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) first emerged in media reports on Tuesday.