FIFA Accuses UEFA of ‘Misinformation Campaign’ Over Abandoned World Cup Investment Plan.

FIFA has accused the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) of pursuing what it described as a “misinformation campaign” following UEFA’s legal efforts to obtain documents and testimony concerning a controversial proposal involving future World Cup commercial rights.

The dispute centres on FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), an investment vehicle proposed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino that would have involved outside investors in the commercial exploitation of major FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. The proposal was withdrawn after opposition from several football confederations and national associations.

FIFA made the accusation in a response to UEFA’s legal efforts in United States courts. UEFA has sought evidence connected to the proposal as it considers potential legal proceedings in Switzerland involving Infantino and other individuals linked to the plan.

FIFA has rejected UEFA’s allegations and argued that the proposed FFE structure was not an attempt to improperly transfer or sell FIFA’s assets. FIFA said the project would have required approval through its established governance structures and maintained that its projected enterprise value exceeded $30 billion.

The organisation also accused UEFA of using the American court process to damage the reputation of FIFA’s leadership and influence the political environment ahead of the next FIFA presidential election. UEFA has not publicly accepted FIFA’s characterization of its legal actions as a misinformation campaign.

The disagreement follows months of escalating tension between FIFA and UEFA over the proposed investment arrangement. UEFA previously welcomed FIFA’s decision to withdraw the plan, saying its member associations had opposed the proposal. The European governing body subsequently pursued legal measures aimed at preserving and obtaining records related to the scheme.

FIFA accused UEFA of a smear campaign after UEFA filed discovery requests in several US courts seeking information connected to the abandoned investment proposal. The legal dispute has brought renewed attention to questions surrounding FIFA’s governance, commercial strategy and the management of revenues generated by global football competitions.

The controversy is unfolding alongside a broader disagreement over FIFA’s financial distribution model. UEFA and CONCACAF have separately called for increased payments to FIFA’s 211 member associations, with a proposal for each association to receive at least $10 million during the 2027–2030 cycle. FIFA has initiated a review of the proposal and its financial implications.

The dispute is therefore not limited to the abandoned investment proposal. It also reflects wider disagreements over transparency, institutional governance, commercial decision-making and the distribution of FIFA’s substantial financial reserves.

For African football stakeholders, the developments are significant because FIFA’s financial distribution programmes remain an important source of funding for national associations and football development projects across the continent. Any major changes to FIFA’s commercial structure or distribution policy could have implications for football infrastructure, grassroots development and national-team programmes.

At this stage, the allegations made by FIFA and UEFA remain contested positions within an ongoing legal and institutional dispute. The outcome of the legal proceedings, together with any subsequent decisions by FIFA’s governing bodies, will provide further clarity on the proposed investment structure and the governance questions surrounding it.

FIFA accuses UEFA of a misinformation campaign amid a legal dispute over the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise and proposed investment in World Cup commercial rights.