UEFA, Concacaf Maintain Pressure on Infantino After FIFA Project Withdrawal

European and North American football confederations are continuing their pressure campaign against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, even after he retracted the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise project. This initiative, intended to open FIFA's commercial activities and events to private investors, was met with near-universal condemnation.

UEFA, representing 55 European federations, was particularly vocal, threatening to withdraw from all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, if the project proceeded. The organization labeled the plan "shoddy, opaque, and hatched behind the scenes," accusing Infantino of failing to uphold promises of transparency made before his 2016 election.

Infantino cited the "divisions" created by the project as the reason for its withdrawal, acknowledging it no longer served its initial purpose. However, the controversy has weakened his standing less than a year before the March 2027 presidential elections, where he is currently the sole candidate. Concerns over potential conflicts of interest were also raised, with reports linking a potential investor, Thrive Eternal, to Joshua Kushner, brother-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

UEFA declared the project's abandonment a "victory for all of football" but stressed that the "task of restoring trust in FIFA has only just begun." The opposition highlights a growing challenge to Infantino's leadership as he seeks re-election.