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One World with Zain Asher
IRGC: Hormuz will Remain Closed, Aggressor will be Punished; Poland and NATO Scrambled Military Aircraft after Missile Fired into Poland; Gironde Fires Stabilized in France; UEFA Denies to Boycott FIFA World Cups; UEFA Votes 55-0 to Boycott FIFA World Cups; European Soccer Governing Body, UEFA, to Boycott World Cups, Rejects FIFA's Investment Proposal. Aired 11a- 12p ET
Aired July 30, 2026 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: Live from London. I'm Christina Macfarlane. Bianna and Zain are off today. And this is "One World". As the
U.S. unleashes a fresh wave of attacks on Iran, the war is pulling in even more countries into the region.
For the first time, Egypt has come under attack. Cairo says a fire that broke out on two vessels at port Wednesday was caused by a drone. In
Southern Iran, explosions rang out after overnight U.S. strikes. Iranian state media video shows search and rescue operations on the island of the
Strait of Hormuz. It says a couple and their two-year-old child were killed in the U.S. strikes.
Meanwhile, Iraq says there is no evidence its territory was used to launch strikes on Saudi Arabia earlier this week. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia
carried out joint strikes on Iranian proxies in Iraq on Wednesday. Well, CNN's Kevin Liptak is joining us now from the White House. So, Kevin, give
us an update of what you're hearing, not just from the White House, but from CENTCOM as well, about these latest attacks?
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Right. And what CENTCOM said was that this was a quote heavy wave of retaliatory strikes against Iran,
targeting them because they had targeted a U.S. position in the region several days ago.
What CENTCOM said they targeted were IRG positions, including military command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance and
defense site, and maritime capabilities. What it does seem to have stopped short of is a full-scale return to the conflict that the president has been
threatening.
And that we know he's continuing to consider behind the scenes with his advisers. What the president said before this began was that it would be
quote a little bit of a slap, and suggested that it was the U.S.'s turn to strike Iran after Iran had struck those U.S. positions.
And in fact, what he suggested was that there had been some miscommunication inside the Iranian regime, and that the officials that the
U.S. has been trying to restart diplomacy with had in fact apologized. Whether that is in fact true, we don't actually know.
Still, it did, I think, break what had been that day's long quiet after the president had stopped those night-by-night attacks in an attempt to get
diplomacy off the table. And it does, I think, pose some questions for how this will all proceed going forward. At this point, there are no clear
signs that the diplomacy has, in fact, resumed.
And in fact, what you have an expansion of the conflict at the very moment that the president is trying to wind it down. You have what's happening in
Egypt, you have the Saudis targeting the positions in Iraq. At the White House yesterday, we had a visit from the defense minister from Saudi
Arabia, Khalid bin Salman.
It went under the radar somewhat, but what we understand is that he met both with the Vice President J.D. Vance, as well as with President Trump.
And he was conveying a message from his brother, the very powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, about where he sees this conflict going
forward.
And so, President Trump, what you see him doing here is both saying that the Iranians are begging for a deal to wind the war down, but also
threatening an escalation of the conflict. It is deja vu in a lot of ways. And then what we don't really have a clear picture of is what his strategy
for getting out of the war is going forward.
You see the U.S. continuing economic pressure. They slapped new sanctions on Iranian firms that they accused of a protection racket in the Strait of
Hormuz. Yesterday you see the U.S. as well, continuing the blockade of Iranian ports. None of that seems to be successful in getting the Iranians
to capitulate or to agree to the president's demands on its nuclear program.
And so, instead, I think you see sort of a muddled picture forward at a very moment when this is becoming harder and harder for the president to
get out of. And three months before the midterm elections, with this weighing very heavily, I think, on voters' minds.
MACFARLANE: Well, I wanted to ask you about that because Iran clearly believes that it has political leverage in this moment. You know, just
three months out from those midterms. I mean, how much is the pressure growing on the president domestically to switch focus from Iran to more
immediate measures back home, such as the economy.
LIPTAK: I think it's growing, although it has been a pressure point for the president for some months now. You know, we had a CNN poll out yesterday
that showed overwhelmingly negative opinions of the Iran war. 67 percent Americans said that the president's decisions when it comes to Iran were
hurting the U.S. negatively.
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You also only had 28 percent say that they approved of the Iran conflict, and those are alarming numbers for the White House. But you know, Iran can
read those numbers as well as anyone and recognizes that it does have this political leverage over the president as they too try and find a way out of
the conflict that keeps intact their control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Now, the elections are only three months away. That's not much time for the president to reverse opinion both on Iran but also on all of the other
negative areas on which he's being judged by the American public.
The president insists that he doesn't feel negative pressure or political pressure to get out of the war, and he has continued to maintain that the
Iran conflict will not have an impact on the midterm elections. But it's clear just because of the economic fallout that you've seen in terms of gas
prices, that this will be an issue for voters.
And I think that's why you're starting to see more and more Republicans come out and say that the president needs to articulate better what his
objectives are here and what exactly his end game will be. But so far, those calls haven't seemed to have caused any change in course for the
president.
MACFARLANE: All right, Kevin Liptak from the White House. Appreciate it. Thank you. Now, Poland is accusing Russia of firing a missile into its
territory overnight. The missile landed and exploded in a field more than 90 kilometers inside Poland, leaving the giant crater that you're seeing on
your screens here.
Both Poland and NATO scrambled military aircraft in response to the threat. And in a statement, NATO's supreme ally commander said the alliance will
take all necessary measures to defend NATO territory. This comes amid a barrage of Russian missiles launched at Ukraine overnight.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the attacks killed at least eight people and hit homes, businesses, and infrastructure. CNN's Clare Sebastian is
joining us with the very latest. So, Clare, last night's strikes came at the end of an extremely deadly month for Ukraine. But just walk us through
how devastating those were.
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. So, this was one of those overnight attacks, Christina, that we've become used to seeing targeting
multiple different regions, multiple areas. There were a lot of missiles used last night. 70 plus missiles is a very high number.
And among those were quite a few ballistic missiles, including nine Iskander M-ballistic missiles. One of which hit a residential home in
Kryvyi Rih, which is in Central Ukraine. It's the president's home town. In fact, in that home, six people were believed to have been killed, including
four children, all believed to be the members of the same family.
Now, obviously, this comes as President Zelenskyy has just wrapped up a trip to Washington. He was in the White House appealing to President Trump
to fast-track American help with more air defense supplies, specifically licenses to produce Patriot interceptors in Ukraine; those are the most
reliable weapons to defend against ballistic missiles.
Telling that of the nine Iskander M missiles that were fired, only one, according to the Air Force, was brought down. We also saw some pretty
horrifying scenes coming out of Lviv in Western Ukraine. I don't know if we can show you where a boy was pulled out of the rubble of a damaged
residential building.
Born in 2020, according to local authorities, he ended up surviving. We think, but with fractures to his leg. So widespread destruction across the
country. And obviously, it wasn't just Ukraine impacted last night. But obviously, we saw a missile. It now seems, according to the Polish Prime
Minister, stray across the border, not just a little bit across the border, but 90 kilometers across the border and crash in Poland.
Now this is obviously a concern. Poland is a NATO member, but the prime minister trying to sort of keep the tone level around this, even as he took
it seriously enough to visit the scene. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TUSK, POLISH PRIME MINISTER: Ukrainian fighter jets right up to the border with Poland were monitoring and attempting to shoot down those
missiles heading towards the Polish border. There is no reason to believe that Poland was the target, but two of these objects violated Polish
airspace. Well, one definitely did, because we have evidence of it here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SEBASTIAN: Well, yeah, they have a huge crater in that field. Luckily, quite far from any buildings or built-up areas. But still, this is
essentially a first we think that an actual missile has strayed into NATO territory. We've seen drones. We've even seen fighter jets. As of now, as
he said, there's no evidence that Poland was the target. This could have been an error.
NATO is also sort of holding fire on any actual reaction. We just heard from Secretary General of NATO saying that they stand with Poland. They're
going to continue to strengthen their readiness to defend against any threat. So, just words at this point from NATO. But given warnings we've
seen recently from Poland and from other countries in the eastern flank of NATO that Russia could be willing to sort of provoke and test their
defenses.
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I think this is going to raise the concern level even further.
MACFARLANE: Yeah, and just a quick response to that, Clare. I mean, we heard there, as you said, there was no reason for Poland to believe that
they were the targets. But do we know if Poland are planning any action? You know, in this sort of a bad breach of their airspace, what are you
hearing on that?
SEBASTIAN: So, I mean, in terms of the action that they've already taken, we know that Poland and NATO scrambled jets overnight. It's not -- it's not
necessarily that unusual. They do that quite regularly in response to big Russian attacks on Ukraine. If they think missiles or projectiles or drones
are going to stray into their airspace.
Look, I think they were already on high alert. They had already said a couple of weeks ago. Donald Tusk had said that Poland was preparing
intensively, in his words, for all different scenarios. That there was a concern, given the escalatory moment that we're at in this war, that Russia
could, with hybrid or kinetic attacks test the eastern flank of NATO.
I think this is going to raise that concern level even further. But as I said, they are sort of trying to play it down a little bit at the moment,
keep that term pretty level. No one wants to get into a cycle of escalation here.
MACFARLANE: Clare Sebastian with the latest, thank you very much, Clare. Now thousands of migrants have crossed over from the border from Morocco
into Spanish territory of Ceuta, overwhelming local police. Officials are asking the government to declare a national emergency, as well as
requesting army intervention to manage the sheer number of people.
Today's mass crossings follows a surge in the number of migrants making the journey in recent days. Well, regional authorities say 1,500 people crossed
the border in the past week alone, mainly by swimming. There's a growing concern about immigration arrests across U.S. airports.
Attorneys say I.C.E. agents are increasingly detaining travelers with expired visas. The arrests are part of a broader effort by agents to use
various enforcement tactics to increase arrests and meet President Trump's 2,000 a day goal. Some attorneys are sounding the alarm over the airport
arrest. CNN's Jon Sarlin has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JON SARLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This video was taken by the friend of a Southwest Airlines passenger who was detained by immigration
agents while trying to board a flight in Denver. Chantal Alejandra Morales Rojas, who is from Ecuador, was trying to fly back home to Oakland after a
weekend looking after her former employees' children.
Morales Rojas's arrest represents a new tactic for immigration officials who are now focused on people with expired visas at airports. In Las Vegas
at the Harry Reid International Airport Phu Nguyen was grabbed by two agents who eventually left after being confronted by bystanders.
DHS says they stopped the arrest to quote de-escalate the situation and for officer safety. Nguyen, a citizen of Australia who was born in Vietnam, had
a two-year visa that expired in 2015, according to DHS. He was taken into custody the next day at LAX. Last week at SFO in San Francisco, agents
detained a Ukrainian woman who DHS says overstayed her visa, which expired in 2011.
She remains in custody. While arrests at airports are not a new strategy under the Trump Administration, it's one that lawyers and advocates say is
increasingly happening. And it's happening now because Senior Homeland Security officials made changes to their enforcement operations on the
heels of two fatal shootings involving I.C.E. officers this month.
Airport detainments are appealing to immigration officers since DHS already receives passengers' information through the Transportation Security
Administration, and passengers are already scanned for weapons. According to her attorneys, Morales Rojas applied to remain in the U.S. before the
off-payer exchange program she was on ended, which allows her to stay without a formal immigration status while her case is reviewed.
DHS told CNN in a statement that just because she was pursuing the process of legally staying in the U.S. that did not mean she was allowed to stay,
and that quote: this administration is working diligently to ensure that aliens in our country illegally can no longer fly unless it is out of our
country to self-deport.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: The face of President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. Attorney General is now in question. The Senate Judiciary Committee has postponed
today's scheduled vote on whether to advance Todd Blanche's nomination after two key Republican Senators said they're not ready to support his
confirmation. CNN's Manu Raju is following this major setback for the Trump Administration. From Capitol Hill.
MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The Senate Judiciary Committee scrapping a critical vote on Thursday and dealing a major blow to
the confirmation prospects of Todd Blanche to be the next Attorney General of United States.
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This after a revolt from two Republican Senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis. But it is really Cornyn who is driving this. Cornyn, who actually
lost his re-election bid, lost his primary bid after Trump backed his primary foe, Ken Paxton. Cornyn has emerged as a thorn in the side of
President Trump.
Tillis is not running for re-election and is also free from those re- election pressures. But both men are concerned about this so-called anti- weaponization fund, $1.8 billion. It was part of a deal that was reached between President Trump and the IRS over a separate matter. Trump suing the
IRS for $10 billion, claiming that he was injured by the unauthorized release of his tax returns.
That led to both the anti-weaponization fund and a deal that would shield the president and his family from tax enforcement, past tax enforcement
actions. The question that John Cornyn had, in particular, he wanted to end writing that this would not apply to the present in the future. Those that
tax enforcement.
Also, he wanted to end the weaponization fund once and for all, kill it altogether. Want that written in paper, and it did not come, and as a
result, Chuck Grassley, the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, deciding to delay that vote. And I asked Senator Cornyn whether or not the
fact that he is free from those re-election pressures is making it easier to buck the president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RAJU: You would acknowledge, though, having not having to run for re- election anymore has freed you up to be more independent from the president. Would you acknowledge that?
SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R-TX): Have you noticed?
RAJU: So, when the president says that you're doing this political vendetta, what do you say?
CORNYN: That's a convenient excuse, and it happens to be untrue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RAJU: Now, can this nomination be salvaged? It is still possible if those demands are met, but the timing is so complicated. The Senate goes on
recess at the end of next week, and the delay means that it is unlikely to hit the Senate floor by next week, which means this could get delayed into
the fall.
And who knows what the political environment will look like then, or if the president move any closer to meeting the demands laid out by Cornyn and
Tillis? But no doubt about it, a major blow to Todd Blanche, who had been trying to get the support of Republican Senators but unable to get the
support of two, which means now his nomination will continue to hang in the balance. Manu Raju, CNN, Capitol Hill.
MACFARLANE: We are turning now to wildfires raging across Europe. Firefighters in drought-stricken England are battling a blaze on the
Suffolk Coast. Residents there have been forced to evacuate. Officials in Spain say there are at least 10 active wildfires across the country.
The blaze in the Castellon region is out of control, forcing thousands to flee their homes. Meanwhile, firefighters in France may see some relief
today as temperatures there are expected to take a slight dip. But it will still be very hot, and any wind or lightning could mean more flames
spreading in the region.
Well, the fires tearing through Southwestern France have come close to the City of Bordeaux. CNN's Melissa Bell reports.
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: French authorities are saying that the fire, the 42,000-hectare fire, the Gironde mega fire,
has been stabilized but not fixed. What that means is that it hasn't particularly progressed in terms of area of surface over the last 24, 36
hours.
But they continue to fight it within because you've had these very hot temperatures, up to 42 degrees in some parts of France. And what we've seen
are some flare-ups of the fire within that area. And that has meant firefighters getting back to try and stamp them out, helped by locals
who've again been very much involved, using their pickup trucks, their tractors, their jerry cans mounted on those to try and help the
firefighters in their efforts.
Essentially, it is such a large area, and it continues to smolder. It is extremely hot. Flames pop up in different parts and continue to threaten
homes. We've also seen the return of some of those more than 20,000 people who were displaced. Some of them were allowed to return home.
About a third of them, many of them still haven't been able to get home. Those who have, have found either homes that were devastated or in parts of
the forest that were devastated, others have found homes intact because they'd been evacuated as a matter of precaution. So, there has been that
solace, at least for those who are able to get back to their homes and find them unscathed.
But still, the fight continues again until authorities tell us that it is fixed it means that it can continue to progress at the whim of winds and
high temperatures. And within it, the vegetation is such. The nature of the vegetation, the nature of this fire that has been so extraordinary in its
ferocity, means that on very hot days like this, the flare-ups are inevitable.
The question is now, what happens over the next couple of days? Even as firefighters continue to battle this emergency here in the Gironde region,
we've seen, as a result of those very hot temperatures, another heat wave.
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We've had so many over the course of this season that picked up. We've seen fires start in Burgundy. The fire that was on in the south of France has
again flared up today. So, they're fighting these fires on multiple fronts, but this one is the one that is really preoccupying French authorities, and
for now the fight is far from over.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN breaking news.
MACFARLANE: Breaking news this hour, we have just had a major decision from UEFA, European football's governing body. After holding an emergency
meeting, they have decided to boycott future World Cups run by FIFA. UEFA is outraged over FIFA President Gianne Infantino's proposal that a new
commercial entity financed by private investors should run the World Cup.
And I want to turn to a statement I've just had in here from UEFA on behalf of its 55 national associations. Just to read you out a small part of it.
It reads as follows, UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions. The vote was unanimous, 55-0. That means
that all UEFA members have voted in favor of a boycott.
The statement goes on to read; UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA's proposal to transfer
ownership interest in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors. It is a very extensive statement.
And to break it down a little bit more for us, I just want to go to our World Sports Patrick Snell, who is standing by from Atlanta. And Patrick,
we did expect the announcement to come in in this hour. Did we expect it to be 55-0, a unanimous decision in favor of boycotting the World Cup?
PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Chrissy, this is absolutely huge news indeed. Massive ramifications for the sport of football. 55-0 is very, very
conclusive. We do know that in the build-up to this day, UEFA said that football is not FIFAs to sell. Very, very strong words. We did know this
was going to be on the cards, and it has happened.
UEFA deciding to boycott FIFA World Cup events. I want to get to more on that statement. Literally, just hot off the press, the World Cup cannot be
treated as an investment product. The statement reads from just a few minutes ago. It is one of football's greatest sporting legacies.
It has been built over generations by players, national teams, and supporters across every continent, no part of it should ever be surrendered
to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale. A big, big statement of intent. So, let's try and simplify this in terms of what it means.
Look at the recent men's World Cup over here in North America, Chrissy. We had three out of the four semi-finalists who are from Europe. The winners,
Spain from Europe. The Spaniards winning it for the second time in 16 years. And there's more of that statement. If you want me to get to that, I
can read that out.
UEFA and its national associations will not participate in 50 -- in FIFA competitions. That's just confirmation of what we've already heard from.
But look, it's as simple as this, 70 percent -- these are the big picture issues here, the big topic. 70 percent of FIFA income comes from UEFA. Just
factor that in.
70 percent of FIFA income comes from UEFA. FIFA needs UEFA. UEFA, to a certain extent, also needs FIFA, but the beautiful game is for the people.
That's been the perception here that you just cannot sell off the beautiful game. What does it mean in terms of the next major tournament?
Is the Women's World Cup next year in Brazil in South America, Chrissy? That's the next big picture topic on the item. But you've also got -- I
mean, imagine that the Women's World Cup. Imagine the Women's World Cup taking place without Spain, without another powerhouse nation, England, the
Lionesses.
Imagine a FIFA World Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, for example, taking place without the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, or Manchester United.
Were they to ever qualify? Just think of those issues. Think of the tournaments, the next men's World Cup in four years if we get to that
point.
So, it remains to be seen what comes next? How will FIFA respond to this? Because this is one big, big statement of intent. There's I've only just
literally had seconds to look at this statement, Chrissy, but there is something else that's leaping out to me, and I do want to get to this.
It's buried away much lower down in this press release. This is it. Football's future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose
first duty is to maximize financial return. Listen to that. I'll read it again. Their first duty is to maximize financial. Nor can the interests of
national associations, leagues, clubs, players, and supporters become subordinate to investor returns.
[11:25:00]
Football cannot mortgage its future for financial gain. We've already had record profits, Chrissy, from the most recently concluded World Cup over
here in North America. A record $12 billion in income generated by FIFA- that's a record. And now, on top of that, they want to further monetize, further make profits.
Big, big talking point in the world of football today, and it's going to make massive, as I said, big, big ramifications for the sport moving
forward.
MACFARLANE: Yeah. And look, Patrick, you and I have just received this statement at the same time, so we're both picking through it like live on
air at the moment. But clearly, UEFA are not mincing their words here. All 55 members are not mincing their words.
You know, just to pick out another statement: the moment external investigators acquire ownership interest in FIFA competitions, football
changes forever. I mean, this feels like it has been a battle in many respects for the soul of football taking place here today. And UEFA are
intent on stopping what Gianni Infantino is trying to put in motion here, which is this business venture that he is putting forward.
But the bigger question I want to ask Patrick is, does this signal the start do you think of what we might see here of a wider split, really, in
football and potentially threaten FIFA as we know it? Where do you see this going, big question?
SNELL: Well, you know, that is the next step we saw, didn't we, in 2018, Gianni Infantino, something similar, basically trying to maybe you might
say some might say he's got previous when it comes to this, when in reference to the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup back then, that didn't get off.
We saw what happened with the European Super League as well.
So, there is a tide of public opinion. History does show that if people make a stance, if the fans, or in this case UEFA, make a stance, then
things can be stopped dead in its tracks. But it's going to be fascinating to see how FIFA, the sport governing body, responds to this because this is
a big, big shout out from UEFA, European football's governing body, 55 member associations, as you say, and basically the powerhouse nations.
Look at the last six men's World Cups, Chrissy. Five of them have been won by European nations. And as I mentioned before, we basically had Spain
winning it again for the second time in 16 years to add to their 2010 triumph on South African soil. But it really is.
I do want to make this point, though, because FIFA's -- part of FIFA's big thing, and rightly so. They're right to point out that the money that the
Swiss-based association does give back to the grassroots level. You look at the millions of dollars that go out to the so-called lesser nations of
world football.
Over 200, remember FIFA nations in total, 211 to be precise. We wouldn't have had the magnificent Cape Verde story, remember, for this most recent
men's World Cup. Remember, Cape Verde becoming the smallest nation ever, Chrissy, to get to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup.
And in the round of 32, they had Argentina, the then reigning world champions on the ropes in that game. The Alba Celeste only beat them after
extra time. We wouldn't have had that incredible story, for example, of Cape Verde. They've received millions over the years from FIFA in
grassroots level, which has done wonders to really spring up the game there and keep the youngsters coming through and thriving.
And also, they've recruited as well very well Cape Verde when it comes to overseas players all over the world tapping into players who have
connections and family heritage with Cape Verde. So definitely something. This is still something we're taking in and digesting every second of the
way.
But there's the key stat there under the breaking news tab. UEFA votes 55- 0, 55-0 to boycott FIFA World Cup events. And just a reminder, the next big one next year, the Women's World Cup in Brazil, South America.
MACFARLANE: Yeah, I mean, quite remarkable, isn't it, that less than two weeks on from that World Cup final, we are looking at a boycott of that
competition by the most powerful confederation in football. Patrick, I just want to go back as you mention about FIFA, us awaiting a response for FIFA.
Where does this leave Gianni Infantino's business venture do you think you know the FIFA Forward Enterprise? Do you expect that he can still move
forward with a vote on that? Would he still have the support? And I say that knowing, of course, that some of the confederations have very publicly
come out against that move in the last few days.
SNELL: Yeah, it is going to be absolutely pivotal to see how the football governing body based in Switzerland how it does respond to this? I
mentioned the 2018 episode. And how that, and I also mentioned how that panned out or didn't, as the case may be. I mentioned the European Super
Leagues that was dead in the water within 48 hours.
[11:30:00]
So, this is something I don't think FIFA will have seen this coming necessarily, but it's every possibility that there is a contingency plan in
place. But look, UEFA meeting today absolutely pivotal, and as you say, absolutely resounding as well. But I want to get back to a point, Chrissy,
that I made just a short while ago.
You know, this World Cup has just generated record profits, $12 billion in income for FIFA generated from this World Cup. This was an exorbitant World
Cup for the fans I will say. I know many of them who were pretty. I do know. I will get to the statement just a minute. Just let me finish this
point about fans being priced out of the sport.
Fans being priced out of the sport due to the exorbitant cost of this World Cup in terms of tickets. The many, many occasions the tickets, Chrissy,
running into hundreds of dollars. The cost of hotel prices, the fares. I know fans who'd set their hearts for years on coming to this North American
World Cup, but in the end, they decided not to. In the end, they decided to watch it at home.
So, my point is, we don't want to see fans potentially being priced out of their love for the beautiful game, due to price and cost, and this is the
risk. This is the danger when it comes to further monetization of a tournament that should be to the fans, to the heart and soul of the game,
the lifeblood of the game, those who fund it, those who've been there from day one.
All right, let's get to that statement. Time to recap it. If we can just scroll back and get to that statement, here we go. Then this is what I'm
going to read from just a few minutes ago. UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions. UEFA and its 55
member associations standing as one.
We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA's proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private
investors. The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football's greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over
generations by players, national teams, and supporters across every continent.
No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale, and just something again that I've highlighted,
Chrissy. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football, and this is me speaking now.
It belongs to the people. The beautiful game belongs to the people, as UEFA said in the build-up to this day, Chrissy. Simply put, and it's a statement
that's resonated with me all week. The World Cup is not for sale. That's from the FIFA statement, and look, they are backing up their statements,
aren't they, with actions, Chrissy?
MACFARLANE: Yeah. And Patrick, I'm sure many will share that sentiment. You know, many football fans, many outsides of football as well. Just to get
back to the basics of what we're reading or what we've seen in this announcement, Patrick, in the last few minutes.
Can you tell us if this boycott will apply to the national European teams or to the club sides as well? Because that's just something I'm trying to
pick up on here. I don't know if you have any clarity on that.
SNELL: Chrissy, my understanding is that you know when it comes to so we're talking specifically and only about FIFA events. So obviously you got the
big two. You've got the World Cup that's just concluded over here in North America, and then you've got the Women's World Cup, which is for the next
edition, is slated for next year in Brazil, South America.
So national teams, the very thought of European national teams not competing in the big two, the men's and the women's World Cup, but you've
got the club editions as well. So, clubs, as I understand this, would be impacted because FIFA controls and oversees the FIFA Club World Cup, which
was in the United States last year.
MACFARLANE: Yeah.
SNELL: I attended the final. It was between Chelsea and Paris Saint- Germain. So, the thought of like these massive elite European clubs not taking part in FIFA events just unthinkable to many -- to many people
around the world. I mean, there's still so much to learn and break down.
And a really good point because this has been a week of finance. This is when politics collide. You've also got that connection to the Kushner
family and the connection to the U.S. President as well, Donald Trump. But look, the financial stat. This is one that really leapt out at me earlier,
and it resonated.
That money talks, and we know this is about money. We know this is about selling off private entities and increasing profits. But look, 70 percent
of FIFA income comes from UEFA. I mentioned that at the top. I'll say it again, 70 percent, that's a huge amount of FIFA income comes from UEFA.
So just keep that stat in mind when we're talking about UEFA, not just the heavyweight and the powerhouse nations. But that massive, massive chunk of
change, as well.
[11:35:00]
MACFARLANE: Yeah, I mean that is -- that's an extraordinary statistic and just an indication of what FIFA will stand to lose here if Gianni
Infantino, it seems, does not back down. Patrick, we're going to take a quick break. We're going to pick right back up with this on the other side.
Do stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MACFARLANE: Returning to our breaking news this hour, a major decision from the European football body UEFA. After holding an emergency meeting, they
have decided to boycott future World Cups run by FIFA. Well, UEFA is outraged over FIFA President Gianni Infantino's proposal that a new
commercial entity financed by private investors should run the World Cup.
Let's bring back CNN's Patrick Snell, who's live for us from Atlanta, who's been following this all closely since it broke around about, I don't know
20 minutes ago or so now. Pat, I just want to bring our viewers an update from a source that I've had, Patrick, close to UEFA about this meeting that
just took place.
They are saying that more than 40 federations took to the floor; that there was total unanimity, lots of anger about how they have been treated? And
why FIFA reserves cannot be used for development, which is really summed up, Patrick, in that statement that we received a short time ago. Just walk
us through it again.
SNELL: Yeah. It was very, very significant, and so is that stat there under the breaking news tab. UEFA votes 55-0 to 0 to boycott FIFA World Cups.
Let's get to that statement, which we had within the last few minutes. UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions.
UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA's proposal to transfer ownership interests in the
World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors. The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football's
greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams, and supporters across every continent.
[11:40:00]
No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale. And I do want to add this because this is something,
Chrissy, that also leapt out at me in the statement. We're just seeing video there of Spain, and it's important to point out that Spanish teams,
Spanish European countries have dominated the World Cup.
Five out of the last six editions of the men's tournament have been won by European nations. There's absolute dominance there. Spain winning it there.
The celebration images recently, July the 19th in New Jersey, at the MetLife Stadium there. Spain winning it for the second time in 16 years
after their 2010 triumph on South African soil.
But also, you look at the semi-finalists from this year's World Cup. Three out of the four countries who got to the semi-finals were from European
nations. And that stat I mentioned about finance, 70 percent of FIFA income comes from European football's governing body. There's no question FIFA
needs UEFA, and vice versa as well, to a certain extent.
There's no doubt about that either. But if I could just spin it forward, Chrissy, as well to the next edition of the World Cup, which, as of right
now, is going to be impacted if UEFA are true to their word. The Women's World Cup in Brazil in South America late next year.
Just the very thought of that going on without Spain, the reigning world champions taking part, without England's lionesses, for example, the reign
of European champions who were beaten in that final of the last edition of the Women's World Cup in Sydney, Australia, the very thought of them not
taking part right now is just unthinkable.
But if I can spin it forward, Chrissy, to the next men's edition of the World Cup, that's 2030. That's actually going to be co-hosted, in effect,
by six different countries. You've got the World Cup returning in essence to Europe, with Portugal, Spain, and Morocco all co-hosting the majority of
the games, but Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay will all get one match each.
This is to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the FIFA World Cup. So, although it seems like a long time away, four years, it's still it's going
to be upon us before we know it really, especially with this story and huge developments and ramifications, as I mentioned.
MACFARLANE: It feels like a long time to go when you've only just had the World Cup final two weeks ago. But you're quite right, Patrick, to point
our viewers to what are the implications of this or the immediate implications of this. You've already talked about, you know, the potential
knock-on effect of the Club World Cup.
But to come back to the women's World Cup, which I don't think many people realize, you know, we're just less than a year away now until the women's
World Cup that's due to be held in Brazil, I think, of next year. And as you rightly point out, the implications for this could be huge and quite
potentially damaging, really, for the women's game.
You know, they do rely on these big global staged events and on their European nations, which are, of course, the stronger teams in women's world
football. Are we going to see do you think European teams needing to withdraw? Because, as I understand it, qualification for that World Cup is
currently ongoing.
SNELL: Yeah, I mean, that's something that's going to be absolutely fascinating to see how this plans out. This is going to be a huge story,
Chrissy. As we know, we work in the industry. It's going to be massive for probably months to come, if not years, unless there is a compromise, unless
there is a back down from either party, whether that be UEFA or football's world governing body, FIFA. That's why there is so much attention right now
on Gianni Infantino.
But look, yes, the women's game has grown massively in recent years. I can't stress this enough. It's on a real high. It's going from strength to
strength. Boom times for women's football. This would be a shame on so many levels, but you can see why UEFA are taking this stance.
Full credit to the U.S. Women's National Team with their multiple World Cup triumphs over the years. They really have been the benchmark to inspire
future generations of young female players, not just from their own country, but from countries all over the world. And now it's Spain who
picked up the mantle as the reigning world champions, England's lioness is going from strength to strength, back-to-back European champions as well.
So many people that just the talk of the town in our office alone here at CNN Sports in Atlanta, Chrissy. So much excitement. We're already chatting
about the forthcoming FIFA Women's World Cup next year in South America, it's already been in our radar. Multiple conversations we've had to each
other about.
All right, wow, we're upset that the men's World Cup has just ended, but we've already got the women's World Cup to look forward to. And so many
fans who love the beautiful game, who care passionately about it. People right now, Chrissy, who will be looking to book travel, to finalize hotels,
to get flights, to sort out tickets for Brazil in South America next summer.
[11:45:00]
Everything is seemingly next year because everything's put on hold. This is going to be in limbo now. People aren't -- people aren't necessarily going
to be traveling if their team or their country isn't playing, right?
MACFARLANE: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And look, as we wait for a response to FIFA, and indeed whether Gianni Infantino will back down over this, as you
were saying and pointing out earlier, Patrick. I mean, the biggest hit to FIFA in all of this potentially is going to be commercial.
I think UEFA nations account for maybe half of the World Cup's TV audience sponsorship. A big question too will be, you know, are we about to see
crucial partners back away from the World Cup. And how damaging could that potentially be?
SNELL: I mean, anything and everything is in play right now. When I came to work today, Chrissy, no one. You kind of think it might be on the cards. It
was talk of the boycott report. So, we're going to get a boycott from UEFA. Well, it's happened. It's happened. They backed up their statement with
actions.
And I tell you what? I was just going to read out some stats in front of me there. That there we go. Yeah, in terms of pure finance, what this World
Cup, the men's World Cup, they've just ended. What it brought in in terms of money, right? In terms of income, a record $12 billion from the 2026
tour, a record $12 billion.
Now, we'll say that does come against a backdrop of sky-high ticket prices, massive hotel prices, expensive flights across North America this whole
summer. The 2023 Women's World Cup final between Spain and England, as I mentioned earlier, Spain winning that, of course, and that's why it comes
back to the fans, the fans who live and breathe the sport. Are they going to get to see their nations playing in next year's World Cup in South
America?
Because right now everything is in limbo, and there's a dominance there. We're just putting up that graphic there, which shows the dominance of the
European nations and the winners going back to the last two decades, 20 years. I was at that last men's World Cup in 2006 in Berlin between France
and Italy.
Italy went on to win that one on penalties, and since then we've had Spain, Germany, France, and Spain again. And that one non-European nation winning
four years ago in Qatar, Lionel Messi's Argentina. So, you can see the dominance that European countries have when it comes to the World Cup,
Chrissy. It's there and very clear to see.
MACFARLANE: Yeah, absolutely. I think I had it down as UEFA Nations have won 12 of the past 22 men's World Cups, so it just gives you an indication
here of what FIFA stand to lose. Patrick, thank you. Stand by for us. I just want to go to Nate Bukaty. He's a Play-by-Play Announcer for MLS on
Apple TV. He's joining us now live from Kansas City.
Nate, thanks for your time. I just want to get your reaction to this announcement. How seismic is this to you, and how unprecedented?
NATE BUKATY, PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCER, MLS ON APPLE TV: It's massive. And I think as it's already been said, now we find out where it goes from here.
Because these are the two most powerful entities in all of global football or soccer, as we call it here in the states, going head-to-head and now in
a staring contest.
Because UEFA has already had a bit of a power struggle with FIFA over the past several years, but you always wondered if it would reach a point where
something could give. And UEFA doesn't have all the power when it comes to the voting in FIFA because they have wisely, by their own standards, in
terms of wanting to be able to manipulate things.
FIFA has been able to kind of manipulate the voting power into the countries that are financially dependent upon FIFA. UEFA is not in that
category, but as you guys just listed off, they are the most powerful entity when it comes to the best national teams and club teams in the
world.
The most lucrative competitions, and now they're taking that power and saying they're going to boycott. It's almost impossible to picture a World
Cup that does not involve UEFA institutions. So now we see what happens next?
MACFARLANE: Yeah. And as I've been saying to Patrick just now, it does feel as though the soul of football or soccer is being fought for here. And it
doesn't mean that there aren't downsides to this for the teams that can no longer play in the World Cup for the revenue that's going to be lost.
But do you think, on the face of it, this is the right decision by UEFA, given what Gianni Infantino is putting forward here, this business
proposal, what he was looking to do with the sport?
BUKATY: Yeah, I mean, I think it's just gotten to a point where we've seen what is supposedly a nonprofit organization in FIFA continue to go down
this path. And allegations of corruption are nothing new when it comes to FIFA, right?
[11:50:00]
But it seems that the corruption has almost come more out in the open, and the flat-out materialistic, I guess, or capitalistic approach to the
process has become more out in the open. And it seems like this is finally the breaking point for UEFA. So, when you ask me, is it the right thing for
them to do?
I guess we have to see how this thing's going to play out. But at some point, in time, the integrity of the competition needs to be called into
question. And what is the purpose of this organization? Is it for furthering the game, or is it for lining the pockets of people that already
have pretty deep pockets?
And so yeah, I think that FIFA, I guess UEFA, I would say, is finally taking a stand on something and using about the only power that they have,
and I think it's hopefully going to create some change for the better.
MACFARLANE: Yeah. And Nate, what I'm watching for in this moment is how potentially the other confederations outside of UEFA will react to this?
And I say that because we know in the last few days that three have voiced their opposition to what Infantino was putting forward here.
In fact, CONCACAF, where you are, the Americas and the Caribbeans, was one of those confederations, along with the Asia Confederation, voicing an
opposition which, in essence, was unusual, as you all know, because the Asians are usually very much on the side of Gianni Infantino.
So, when we consider where this could go next? I mean, do you think we could be in the realm of other confederations moving in this similar
direction to UEFA here?
BUKATY: Boy, I hesitate to give a real prediction on that because one of the things you know we talk about is the voting power that each country has
in these types of situations. So, even though the United States might be against a situation like this, and I'm only saying that as a hypothetical.
Is their vote any more powerful than a tiny island nation in the Caribbean that might be getting a lot of financial reward from FIFA for staying in
line and not fighting this system? That's why most people that I've talked to through the course of this, you know, and the genesis of this whole
thing with FIFA wanting to sell private equity basically in the World Cup.
A lot of people that I've talked to thought, well, this is just going to pass because there are enough countries out there that are financially
dependent on FIFA, that won't want to step out of line. If UEFA does this, and according to what we're being told, all 55 of the voters in UEFA are in
lockstep on this. Maybe that changes the calculus a little bit and does embolden some of these other federations to speak up.
MACFARLANE: Yeah, there's so many questions, aren't there, for what all of this has unlocked. But Nate, thank you for now. Do stand by. I just want to
turn to our next guest, who is the Professor of Political Science at Pacific University and a Former Professional Football Player.
Jules Boykoff is also the Author of Red Car: The 2026 World Cup Sportswashing and the FIFA Greed Machine. Thank you so much for joining us.
So, Jules, 55-0 unanimous vote from UEFA. What do you make of it?
JULES BOYKOFF, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, PACIFIC UNIVERSITY: Well, it's bombshell after bombshell happening right now. And a remarkable show
of solidarity from UEFA. I think UEFA is reading the moment correctly, and boycotting is a powerful tool.
They have pulled out the threat of a boycott in the past when Gianni Infantino, the President of FIFA, threatened to make the Men's World Cup a
biennial affair, and it worked at that time. So, they're going back to the well in this instance to see if the boycott threat works again.
I have to say this is incredibly awkward, given that the next men's World Cup is hosted by two countries in UEFA that's Portugal and Spain. And I
also just have to say that it would be a downright crime against joy if it's the Women's World Cup that pays the price on the altar of FIFA greed.
MACFARLANE: Yeah, that's a very good point. The Women's World Cup, of course, set to take place in what less than a year's time. One wonders at
the moment what impact this is having on those European nations who are already in qualifying.
Where do you think, Jules now this possibly leaves Gianni Infantino, FIFA, and that new, you know, FIFA enterprise that he is pushing? I mean, it's a
real, I mean, slap in the face, I guess, for his ambition. But do you still think he would have the support for that venture? Because it's likely he
might still push through for a vote on that now.
BOYKOFF: So, Gianni Infantino's reign at FIFA, like his predecessors Sepp Blatter and Joao Havelange, relied on an intricate network of patronage,
where FIFA gives out millions of dollars to these football associations around the world, in exchange for their relative compliance, when Infantino
or Blatter or Havelange has a big idea.
[11:55:00]
Because they're receiving millions upon millions of dollars, they tend to go along with it. In this instance, it looks like he might have pressed
just a little bit too far. This could create some dissension in the ranks at FIFA itself, where everybody's always sniffing for additional power
inside of that organization.
And Infantino is basically slapped the face of the vice presidents who are supposed to be a check on his power. So, there could be some dissension in
the ranks that could potentially lead to him getting ousted ahead of the election in 2027. That everyone until a few days ago thought he was going
to win handily.
MACFARLANE: Yeah, it's a very good point. Maybe this will result in being a referendum on Gianni Infantino himself. It's not out of the question, right
at this point? Jules Boykoff, great to have your thoughts. Do stay with us. We have to go to the end of the hour now, but we'll be back with more
breaking news in the next hour of "One World". The World Cup is not for sale. That's the declaration coming from UEFA. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
