Trump breaks silence on controversial FIFA World Cup plans as 143 countries announce boycott

Donald Trump has broken his silence on FIFA president Gianni Infantino's controversial plans for the 2030 World Cup, as countries around the world announce they will boycott the tournament.

The US president claims he did not discuss FIFA's controversial proposal to sell World Cup commercial stakes to external investors with Infantino, he told reporters on Friday (July 31).

The proposal has sparked widespread controversy around the world, with UEFA announcing they would boycott the next tournament if the plans go ahead.

CONCACAF and AFC have also rejected the plans.

FIFA is propsing to create a new $20 billion company ahead of the 2030 World Cup, and sell stakes in it to private investors, with Josh Kushner's firm leading the deal.

Infantino has defended the plans, claiming that the investments are about growing football's revenues and sharing more money with member associations, rather than giving up control of the sport.

Writing in a statement, the FIFA president added: "Football is the world’s most popular sport and an extraordinary engine of human and social development.

"Parts of the game have turned that popularity into remarkable commercial value - and we celebrate that success and want it to continue, because it lifts the whole game."

The number of countries backing the proposed boycott has now risen to 143, including football powerhouses England, France, Germany, Italy and reigning world champions Spain, among many others.

Europe, among other nations, take a stand

UEFA, the association which governs, promotes, and develops football across Europe, has made its feeling very clear about FIFA's plan.

It said in a new statement: "No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership."

Trump and Infantino have grown close in recent months. (Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

Trump's relationship with Infantino

Trump's denial comes amid a close relationship between the two, which began after Infantino gifted the president the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December 2025.

The pair also shared a phone call, the details of which were later made public, after Trump rang Infantino to question the red card shown to US striker Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup - which was later overturned.

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