LONDON : UEFA and its 55 member associations voted unanimously on Thursday to boycott all FIFA competitions unless world soccer’s governing body abandons plans to sell a stake in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors, escalating a dispute that threatens the future of the global game.
The move represents the strongest opposition yet to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal, unveiled earlier this week, to create a subsidiary to manage the World Cup and other FIFA competitions while offering minority stakes to external investors.
A source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that UEFA’s 55 member associations backed the boycott unanimously at an emergency meeting.
“We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors,” UEFA said in a statement.
“No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.”
UEFA said the World Cup was “not for sale” and should not be treated as an investment product or handed over to private investors.
The opposition extended beyond Europe.
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) said its 41 member associations had rejected the proposal during a meeting on Thursday, although the Mexican Football Federation later said it had not yet taken a final position and would await further details from FIFA during planned round-table discussions.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also criticised the proposal in a letter to its 47 member associations, warning that the plan would not succeed without the backing of all six continental confederations.
UEFA’s decision has immediate implications for upcoming FIFA competitions, including the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2030 Men’s World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Infantino’s proposal would establish a $20 billion subsidiary to operate the World Cup and other FIFA events, with minority ownership offered to private investors.
FIFA has proposed distributing $40 million to each of its 211 member associations if the plan is approved by Sept. 19 as part of a $10 billion financial package available from Jan. 1, 2027.
If the proposal is rejected, FIFA has said member associations would instead receive the previously proposed $2.7 billion distribution, equivalent to about $10 million per association.
