US judge rejects FIFA bid to block UEFA evidence on Infantino's World Cup investor plan

A ruling on FIFA's bid to intervene

On Thursday, 12 November 2026, Judge Jeannette Vargas denied motions by two FIFA subsidiaries in the United States that sought to block UEFA from obtaining evidence. The judge found that the subsidiaries lack a direct, substantial and legally protectable interest in the case. In an eight-page decision, she wrote that nothing before the court suggests the US entities, or FIFA itself, would be parties to the criminal proceedings UEFA has in view.

“Nothing in this record indicates that the US FIFA parties, or even FIFA itself, will be parties in the contemplated criminal proceedings.”

The decision does not hand over any documents yet. A further court decision is still needed before disclosure can take effect.

What UEFA is seeking

UEFA filed court documents in August as part of a wider effort to remove Infantino as FIFA president. That strategy includes a possible criminal complaint against him personally in Switzerland over alleged financial mismanagement. UEFA's requests target Thrive Capital, the investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, whose brother Jared is the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. They also reach JP Morgan, which FIFA has confirmed worked alongside Thrive on the plan. UEFA accuses both firms of advising on and structuring the proposal in secret. The two subsidiaries had also asked for the case to be paused until a parallel dispute in Florida, where FIFA has one of its US offices, was resolved.

The collapsed investor plan

Infantino sought to set up FIFA Forward Enterprise, known as FFE, to run the commercial rights of the World Cup and FIFA's other competitions, with private investors holding a minority stake. Investors intended to pay FIFA $4.2 billion for a stake of more than 20% in the subsidiary. Thrive was to be the anchor investor, and the 211 member federations were offered $20 million each to approve the project. The plan surfaced in July, after the men's World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico had ended, and it drew a global backlash. Three continental confederations rejected it, and it was abandoned in August. FIFA's cash reserves had risen above $5 billion after that tournament.

Pressure on Infantino ahead of the March vote

UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA competitions. In October it demanded answers about FFE and wider concerns about Infantino's presidency. Its letter questioned the decision to give Thrive exclusivity in leading the investor group. Infantino, who has led FIFA for almost 11 years, plans to stand for reelection on 18 March 2027. Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japanese Football Association, has announced he will run for the presidency. Former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger is considering a challenge but remains undecided. UEFA does not currently regard him as its preferred candidate, and other individuals are also being assessed.