World Cup and European leagues

[Ron Boerger]

In other news, big, big storm cloud over FIFA and UEFA breaking up. Guessing UEFA isn't getting a huge cut. https://nypost.com/2026/07/30/business/uefa-to-boycott-world-cup-over-20b-kushner-linked-fifa-deal-sources/

Very troubling since the women's WC is next summer. UEFA is obv. throwing its big weight around.

Given that private equity destroys basically everything it touches in order to transfer wealth from whatever it acquires to itself, I can't blame UEFA at all. 

[jknezek]

This plan should be DOA. But the one member one vote nature of FIFAis going to make that cash grab real attractive to a lot of small, never going to be competitive, countries.

[Ron Boerger]

UEFA has indeed voted to boycott "all FIFA competitions including the World Cup" (ESPN.com) as long as this proposal is on the table or implemented.

Further, per ESPN.com, Concacaf's 41-member nations are also set to have an emergency meeting on Thursday.

[Ron Boerger]

The ESPN story linked above has been updated with Concacaf's decision:  "Following its own meeting later in the day, the 41-member Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football said it had also rejected the proposal.

Concacaf members include 2026 World Cup hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico. The U.S. Soccer Federation wrote on social media that it "stands with Concacaf and its members." " 

Concacaf's statement, however, does not go as far as UEFA's, saying nothing about a boycott of FIFA events, and instead "tasked" their "FIFA Council Members" to engage FIFA and to instruct "the FIFA President to ensure that any matter follows the proper governance processes via staff and FIFA Council, in accordance with the FIFA Statutes."

[Gray Fox]

The ESPN story linked above has been updated with Concacaf's decision:  "Following its own meeting later in the day, the 41-member Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football said it had also rejected the proposal.

Concacaf members include 2026 World Cup hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico. The U.S. Soccer Federation wrote on social media that it "stands with Concacaf and its members." " 

Concacaf's statement, however, does not go as far as UEFA's, saying nothing about a boycott of FIFA events, and instead "tasked" their "FIFA Council Members" to engage FIFA and to instruct "the FIFA President to ensure that any matter follows the proper governance processes via staff and FIFA Council, in accordance with the FIFA Statutes."

Will any of this affect who will be the coach of the national team?

[jknezek]

The ESPN story linked above has been updated with Concacaf's decision:  "Following its own meeting later in the day, the 41-member Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football said it had also rejected the proposal.

Concacaf members include 2026 World Cup hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico. The U.S. Soccer Federation wrote on social media that it "stands with Concacaf and its members." " 

Concacaf's statement, however, does not go as far as UEFA's, saying nothing about a boycott of FIFA events, and instead "tasked" their "FIFA Council Members" to engage FIFA and to instruct "the FIFA President to ensure that any matter follows the proper governance processes via staff and FIFA Council, in accordance with the FIFA Statutes."

Will any of this affect who will be the coach of the national team?

Doubtful. Having an Xtra $10million might help pay more, but I.S. Soccer can find the money to hire if they want to. Poch proved that.

[jknezek]

Well between UEFA, CONCACAF and ASEAN, there are enough votes to kill this idea. However, given how corrupt FIFA is at all times, I think it's unlikely that the votes are definitely there. CAF will likely be in favor of any money they can get, as will the Oceanic nations. That leaves South America, and for the the three that have already disavowed the idea to keep their smaller and poorer nations onside. Frankly I'm surprised both CONCACAF and ASEAN came out so strongly against it. There are a lot of smaller nations in both regions where an extra $10-12MM would be a big deal.

Finally, the proposal isn't quite as odious as I first thought. I think, if it passes, the private equity influence would slowly creep larger until it becomes as odious as I feared, but to start with, the deal is very similar to those cut by the University of Utah, the New Zealand All Blacks, and even Spanish soccer's first division. Selling a minority stake in a separate media rights company, if you can firewall it to just that area, isn't really selling out the game. I just doubt the firewall would hold.

[Ron Boerger]

Infantino blinked and FIFA will no longer pursue private equity investment (gift link from The Athletic).

This apparent one-man effort may cost Infantino his job, from reports.

[Kuiper]

Infantino blinked and FIFA will no longer pursue private equity investment (gift link from The Athletic).

This apparent one-man effort may cost Infantino his job, from reports.

Maybe Infantino will look for a soft landing spot in a place where they appreciate private equity investment.  Like college sports.

https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/university-of-utah-and-its-foundation-finalize-deal-to-form-crimson-brand-partners/

[jknezek]

And we are keeping Poch. I'm not a fan. I like Poch, it's not an issue with his coaching and I think he did well with the team he had this cycle, but I can't think of any time a U.S. coach went 2 cycles and it worked out well. Or too many international coaches in general that a second cycle worked well. Maybe having a short first cycle will help, but I feel like the players just tune out a coach the second time through. I'll be surprised if he makes it all the way through the cycle.

[Hopkins92]

Yeah, the mitigating factor (for me) is that he didn't really have a full cycle to build up to this year's cup.

I also think we have him for another couple of years, and then someone from Europe is going to grab him.

[SierraFD3soccer]

My opinion on Poch is that, while not super, who is the alternative?  US did fine and got as far as they were ever going to go recently, but also the team was never really tested running up to the WC. Solid coach who appears to want to be here which is great. 

Assuming that Poch will be able to have the best players available in the next several years, I believe that the US can be maybe more successful. Not holding much hope though. At least we won't have to worry about soccer mom battles.

[Hopkins92]

The other thing that hasn't been talked about a lot in all the handwringing reviews of this past World Cup is this...

There is nothing quite like going through the crucible of qualifying in CONCACAF for the World Cup. This iteration tried to replicate that atmosphere with Copa, Gold Cups and the Nations League... But we all know that a) these games were played in the US and b) they stakes just aren't the same.

I'd like to see what Poch could do with the tournaments I mentioned, but also the stress factory of having to play important games in Tegucigalpa, Mex City, San Pedro Sula, etc. etc.