The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced on Thursday, August 6th, 2026, that it will maintain its boycott of FIFA competitions, including the World Cups. This decision comes despite FIFA's recent withdrawal of its plan to open up the World Cup to outside investors.

UEFA reiterated that it has lost confidence in FIFA president Gianni Infantino and stated that the conditions required to end the boycott have not been met. In a statement, UEFA emphasized that its associations were clear about the conditions for non-participation in FIFA events: the withdrawal of proposals to sell off major competitions and assurances that such attempts will never be made again.

Following a high-level summit in Morocco on Wednesday, FIFA and Infantino attempted to show unity by announcing that the president had the full support of top staff. FIFA expressed hope that the meeting would help restore confidence in the organization after the turmoil caused by Infantino's now-abandoned project, which faced widespread condemnation.

However, UEFA remains unconvinced. The European governing body declared it has lost confidence in FIFA's leadership, signaling potential challenges to Infantino's presidency. UEFA also dismissed recent announcements from individuals employed by the FIFA president who support him, stating that such endorsements "change nothing."

This ongoing dispute highlights UEFA's concern regarding repeated unilateral actions taken by FIFA and underscores the deep divisions within international football governance.

Sources