On Wednesday, August 27, 2026, UEFA filed a request with a U.S. federal court seeking permission to obtain testimony and documents from FIFA entities based in Florida. The materials are intended for use in a planned criminal complaint in Switzerland against FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

In an ex parte application under U.S. law, UEFA stated it is considering criminal proceedings against Infantino and potentially other FIFA officials and advisers. The case concerns a now-abandoned proposal to transfer commercial rights linked to the men's and women's World Cups and the Club World Cup into a new subsidiary named FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).

UEFA alleges that Infantino developed the plan secretly with a small group of advisers and investors, bypassing FIFA's normal governance processes and failing to consult FIFA's Council, regional confederations, or member associations. The request asks the U.S. court to authorize discovery from two Florida-based FIFA entities: FIFA (AMERICAS), Inc. and FWC2026 US, Inc.

The European governing body indicated that these organizations may hold documents and witnesses relevant to how the FFE transaction was conceived, structured, valued, and approved. UEFA is actively considering legal action connected to the plan proposed by FIFA and is preparing to bring criminal claims in Switzerland for criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code.

The situation unfolds amid ongoing support for Infantino from World Cup 2034 hosts Saudi Arabia and other football developments worldwide.

Sources