UEFA warns Infantino over ‘Coupe du Monde’ sale and legal threat

UEFA has issued a formal warning to Gianni Infantino and FIFA, threatening legal action over the proposed commercialisation of the 2026 Coupe du Monde. The governing body demands immediate preservation of all electronic documents related to the project, citing potential breaches of evidence‑preservation rules.

The Telegraph reported on Sunday that UEFA sent a letter to the FIFA president outlining the threat of legal proceedings. The correspondence, seen by the newspaper, underscores UEFA’s determination to challenge the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative.

In the letter, UEFA instructs Infantino and FIFA to identify, locate and retain every electronic file describing the project that is in their possession or control. The directive states that these obligations supersede any internal document‑retention policies the organisations may have.

UEFA further warns that any destruction, deletion, alteration, concealment or loss of relevant documents after receipt of the notice could be deemed destruction of evidence. Such actions would expose the parties to legal consequences under the same notice.

The governing body also declares the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme fundamentally incompatible with good governance of football. The letter includes a detailed list of information types to be kept and identifies individuals likely to hold pertinent documents because of their roles in the project.

UEFA has even hinted at a possible boycott of competitions should the dispute remain unresolved. This adds pressure on FIFA to comply with the preservation demands.

Two weeks earlier, Infantino was celebrated for the global success of the North American Coupe du Monde, but his recent reform failure has left his position appearing more vulnerable than ever. The timing of UEFA’s warning comes at a moment when his authority seems weakened.

The warning arrives less than a year before Infantino’s term ends in March 2027, a period that could further complicate his ability to defend the project. UEFA’s actions therefore pose a significant challenge to the FIFA president’s remaining tenure.