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UEFA members announced that they will not participate in FIFA competitions in protest of a proposed plan to sell a stake of the World Cup to private investors.
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UEFA released a statement on Thursday declaring that all 55 members “unanimously and unequivocally reject” FIFA’s plans. They reached the decision following an emergency virtual meeting, per The Times’ Martyn Ziegler.
“As a result of today’s discussion, 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 is not for sale”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino introduced a proposal to raise up to $20 billion from private investors. They would sell a minority stake of a new entity called FIFA Forward Enterprises (FFE) that would run FIFA’s commercial operations.
UEFA’s statement emphatically condemned FIFA’s proposal when announcing a boycott of all FIFA events, which include the men’s and women’s World Cup.
“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies,” UEFA said. “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.
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“It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game. This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football.”
UEFA expressed concerns over how a private investment model would affect the sport.
“This model has no place in world football,” UEFA declared. “Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return. Nor can the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters become subordinate to investor returns. Football cannot mortgage its future for financial gain.”
The organization ensured that it will adamantly fight FIFA’s plans.
“Europe’s position is clear. We will never lend this model our legitimacy,” they said. “No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation. Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination.”
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This story was originally published July 30, 2026 at 9:09 AM.