UEFA Issues Legal Notice to FIFA Over World Cup Plans

UEFA has formally notified FIFA of potential legal action by dispatching a preservation letter after Gianni Infantino's plans to sell a portion of World Cup revenues to private investors failed. The letter mandates FIFA to retain all documentation related to the proposed project, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which aimed to secure $4.2 billion in investment, including from Joshua Kushner's company.

UEFA, along with CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, opposed the proposal, leading to its withdrawal over the weekend. The notice, reportedly from New York law firm Dechert, instructs FIFA not to discard or alter any materials associated with the project and lists 18 senior FIFA officials, including Infantino, Chief Finance Officer Thomas Peyer, and FIFA Head of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger, who claimed he was unaware of the investment project.

This situation exacerbates Infantino's challenges, as UEFA seeks an alternative candidate for the FIFA presidency scheduled for March 2027, with several UEFA member federations withdrawing their support for him.