Two courts, one explosive objective
The next decisive move in UEFA’s confrontation with FIFA may come not from Zurich or Nyon, but from two federal courts in the United States.
On 27 August, UEFA filed applications in New York and Florida seeking documents and testimony connected to FIFA Forward Enterprise, the abandoned plan to sell investors a 20 per cent stake in a company controlling major FIFA commercial rights.
According to the Associated Press, the New York application targets Thrive Capital Management, founded by Josh Kushner. The Florida filing seeks evidence from FIFA (AMERICAS), Inc. and FWC2026 US, Inc., two FIFA-linked entities based in Coral Gables.
The objective is potentially explosive: UEFA says the evidence could be used in a contemplated Swiss criminal complaint alleging possible criminal mismanagement by Infantino and potentially other FIFA officials.
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No public green light yet
As of 31 August, no publicly available court order approving either application has emerged. The requests therefore appear to remain pending.
That distinction matters. UEFA has asked for judicial assistance; it has not yet publicly secured the evidence. Nor has any US court ruled on the truth of UEFA’s allegations.
The applications were made under Section 1782 of the US Code, which allows federal courts to order people or companies within their jurisdiction to provide evidence for use in foreign proceedings.
Such applications may initially be considered without hearing the targeted parties. Even if permission is granted, FIFA or Thrive could subsequently contest the subpoenas, their scope or the handling of confidential material.
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The real danger is disclosure
A court approval would not establish criminal wrongdoing. It would, however, allow UEFA to pursue the material needed to test its case: internal messages, valuations, approval records and evidence identifying who designed and authorised the proposed transaction.
Reuters reported that UEFA wants to establish how the project was conceived, structured, valued and approved. UEFA alleges that it was developed for more than a year without proper consultation with the FIFA Council, the confederations or FIFA’s 211 member associations.
That is the real threat to Infantino. Political accusations can be rejected as part of football’s permanent power struggle. Internal documents carrying dates, names and financial assessments are harder to dismiss.
The American judges are not being asked to decide whether Infantino is guilty. They are being asked whether UEFA may open the drawers in which the answer could be hiding.
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