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The growing row over FIFA's reported plans to attract private investment into the World Cup has prompted a fresh intervention from one of England's leading supporters' groups.
A strongly worded letter has now urged the Football Association and UEFA to take a stand against the proposals.
England Supporters Travel Club urge UEFA to act against Gianni Infantino
The England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) has called on the Football Association and UEFA to oppose FIFA's reported plans to sell stakes in future World Cups to private investors.
In an open letter addressed to FA chair Debbie Hewitt and chief executive Mark Bullingham, long-serving ESTC chief Nick Jones urged football's European leaders to “return the game to the fans” amid growing concern over FIFA's direction.
Jones criticised several aspects of the 2026 World Cup, arguing that many loyal supporters had been priced out of attending matches while commercial priorities increasingly took precedence over the fan experience.
He also warned that FIFA's reported plans to create a new commercial entity capable of selling investment stakes in its flagship competitions represented another step away from football's traditional values.
The letter described the proposal as “an abomination of an idea”, urging UEFA to use its influence to stop what Jones called “this madness” before football moved further towards corporate interests.
His intervention comes as UEFA has reportedly voiced concerns over FIFA's plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary linked to the World Cup, with the proposal said to have sparked discussions across European football about how best to respond if the governing body presses ahead.
Jones concluded by calling on UEFA's leadership to act “without delay”, insisting football's governing institutions should protect supporters rather than allow the game to become increasingly commercialised.
FGG says: Fans deserve a voice in World Cup future
Supporters have always been at the heart of football's biggest occasions, so, understandably, proposals affecting the future ownership or commercial direction of the World Cup are attracting such strong reactions.
Any significant changes to the game's flagship tournament should involve meaningful consultation with supporters and national associations, not just commercial stakeholders.
Football's biggest competitions only thrive because of the fans who fill the stadiums and travel across the world to support their teams, so keeping those supporters at the centre of future decisions should remain a priority for everyone involved.