{"id":30348,"date":"2026-08-06T22:50:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T17:50:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=30348"},"modified":"2026-08-06T22:50:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T17:50:33","slug":"europes-soccer-body-says-fifa-world-cup-boycott-is-still-on-npr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=30348","title":{"rendered":"Europe&#8217;s soccer body says FIFA World Cup boycott is still on : NPR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-137625\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" 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data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5766x3844+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcb%2Ffa%2Fabc3477640aea5820b56b2e168a3%2Fgettyimages-2271524899.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5766x3844+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcb%2Ffa%2Fabc3477640aea5820b56b2e168a3%2Fgettyimages-2271524899.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5766x3844+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcb%2Ffa%2Fabc3477640aea5820b56b2e168a3%2Fgettyimages-2271524899.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks at the Semafor World Economy 2026 in Washington, D.C., on April 15, 2026.\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks at the Semafor World Economy 2026 in Washington, D.C., on April 15, 2026.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Alex Wong\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Alex Wong\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>UEFA \u2014 the soccer body that represents 55 European nations \u2014 said on Thursday it would maintain its boycott of the World Cup, extending <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/31\/nx-s1-5915820\/fifa-world-cup-gianni-infantino\" target=\"_blank\">the pressure<\/a> on FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign over a failed plan to sell stakes in the tournament to private investors.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5923408-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5899071\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/19\/nx-s1-5899071\/2026-world-cup-fifa-argentina-spain-final-championship\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/19\\\/nx-s1-5899071\\\/2026-world-cup-fifa-argentina-spain-final-championship&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4978x4978+1251+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F10%2Feb%2F510b8da9452e8bdfe694e2b468e0%2Fgettyimages-2286813477.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4978x4978+1251+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F10%2Feb%2F510b8da9452e8bdfe694e2b468e0%2Fgettyimages-2286813477.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4978x4978+1251+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F10%2Feb%2F510b8da9452e8bdfe694e2b468e0%2Fgettyimages-2286813477.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4978x4978+1251+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F10%2Feb%2F510b8da9452e8bdfe694e2b468e0%2Fgettyimages-2286813477.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4978x4978+1251+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F10%2Feb%2F510b8da9452e8bdfe694e2b468e0%2Fgettyimages-2286813477.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4978x4978+1251+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F10%2Feb%2F510b8da9452e8bdfe694e2b468e0%2Fgettyimages-2286813477.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4978x4978+1251+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F10%2Feb%2F510b8da9452e8bdfe694e2b468e0%2Fgettyimages-2286813477.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4978x4978+1251+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F10%2Feb%2F510b8da9452e8bdfe694e2b468e0%2Fgettyimages-2286813477.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Rodri, #16 of Spain, lifts the FIFA World Cup Winner\u2019s Trophy after the team\u2019s 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Sunday. It was Spain's second World Cup title.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5923408-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>UEFA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/30\/nx-s1-5913664\/world-cup-fifa-uefa-gianni-infantino\" target=\"_blank\">first announced<\/a> the boycott last week after FIFA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/28\/nx-s1-5910773\/fifa-world-cup-gianni-infantino\" target=\"_blank\">unveiled the plan<\/a>, which would have involved creating a separate venture to handle all commercial operations of the World Cup and other tournaments \u2014 and then selling part of the company to financial firms.<\/p>\n<p>Infantino said the plan would help raise funds that could be distributed across the world \u2014 but instead found himself facing a global storm as soccer officials around the world revolted against a move that would have effectively privatized the World Cup. <\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-backstage-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap backstage\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>But one of the biggest blows to Infantino came from within FIFA after a senior adviser quit while a senior executive issued a blistering statement to the Associated Press opposing the plan and saying it had been hatched by Infantino without any internal consultation.<\/p>\n<p>Although Infantino has since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/31\/nx-s1-5915820\/fifa-world-cup-gianni-infantino\" target=\"_blank\">abandoned the plan<\/a> \u2014 UEFA said its boycott would remain, saying it wanted a guarantee that FIFA would never again try to commercialize the World Cup in this manner.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5923408-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5923233\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/08\/06\/nx-s1-5923233\/infantino-crisis-meeting-fifa\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/06\\\/nx-s1-5923233\\\/infantino-crisis-meeting-fifa&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1754x1754+439+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F81%2F0c%2Fb1b6d3d74cb0a4086f48c1233026%2Fap26218220351714.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1754x1754+439+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F81%2F0c%2Fb1b6d3d74cb0a4086f48c1233026%2Fap26218220351714.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1754x1754+439+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F81%2F0c%2Fb1b6d3d74cb0a4086f48c1233026%2Fap26218220351714.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1754x1754+439+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F81%2F0c%2Fb1b6d3d74cb0a4086f48c1233026%2Fap26218220351714.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1754x1754+439+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F81%2F0c%2Fb1b6d3d74cb0a4086f48c1233026%2Fap26218220351714.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1754x1754+439+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F81%2F0c%2Fb1b6d3d74cb0a4086f48c1233026%2Fap26218220351714.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1754x1754+439+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F81%2F0c%2Fb1b6d3d74cb0a4086f48c1233026%2Fap26218220351714.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1754x1754+439+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F81%2F0c%2Fb1b6d3d74cb0a4086f48c1233026%2Fap26218220351714.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"FIFA president Gianni Infantino leaves after attending a Women AFCON 2026 soccer match between Malawi and Zambia, in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5923408-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;UEFA&#8217;s associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non-participation in FIFA competitions.\u00a0 First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again. These conditions have not been met,&#8221; UEFA said.<\/p>\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fifpro.org\/en\/articles\/2026\/08\/fifpro-statement-fifa-forward-enterprise\" target=\"_blank\">a separate statement<\/a>, FIFPRO, the body representing soccer players around the world, also condemned FIFA for pursuing its plan and demanded a set of governance reforms.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Infantino on the ropes<\/h3>\n<p>The soccer body \u2014 which has a longstanding rivalry with FIFA over who gets to control soccer and its riches \u2014 also continued to call for Infantino&#8217;s ouster. Infantino had previously said he would run for another term as FIFA president in elections scheduled for March. So far, he has not attracted any challengers.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-secondary-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap secondary\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<aside id=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" class=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" aria-label=\"recommended stories\"\/>\n<!-- END ID=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n<p>UEFA also dismissed <a href=\"https:\/\/inside.fifa.com\/organisation\/media-releases\/leadership-constructive-positive-talks-rabat-morocco?requester=MediaHub\" target=\"_blank\">a statement from FIFA<\/a> on Wednesday in which top officials agreed to close ranks and mend fences after Infantino apologized in an internal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/08\/06\/nx-s1-5923233\/infantino-crisis-meeting-fifa\" target=\"_blank\">emergency meeting<\/a> in Morocco. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Yesterday&#8217;s announcement that some people employed by the FIFA President (and whose careers depend on his favour) agree with him changes nothing,&#8221; UEFA said in its statement.<\/p>\n<p>Other countries have also continued to call for Infantino&#8217;s ouster, including the English Football Association. Meanwhile, CONMEBOL, which represents South American soccer bodies, did not explicitly call for Infantino&#8217;s resignation but also did not express its support.<\/p>\n<p>A European boycott \u2014 if sustained \u2014  would be a lethal threat to FIFA and Infantino. The Women&#8217;s World Cup is set to take place in Brazil next year and now risks not having European nations, including reigning champion Spain.<\/p>\n<p>And the next men&#8217;s World Cup is set to take place largely in Spain, Portugal and Morocco \u2014 with some games taking place in Argentina and other South American nations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks at the Semafor World Economy 2026 in Washington, D.C., on April 15, 2026. Alex Wong\/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Alex Wong\/Getty Images UEFA \u2014 the soccer body that represents 55 European nations \u2014 said on Thursday it would maintain its boycott of the World Cup, extending the pressure on&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30349,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5766x3243+0+166\/resize\/1400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcb%2Ffa%2Fabc3477640aea5820b56b2e168a3%2Fgettyimages-2271524899.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30348\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}