UEFA announced on Thursday that it will refuse to take part in any FIFA competitions until President Gianni Infantino abandons his proposal to sell a share of the World Cup. The decision followed an emergency gathering of the confederation’s 55 member associations and could have far‑reaching consequences for global football and for Infantino’s agenda. In a statement issued in the early hours of Friday, FIFA countered that "nobody is selling football" and that such a transaction is "something FIFA would never consider".
Sky Sports, together with chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol, set out the main questions and explored what might lie ahead. The virtual emergency meeting of UEFA members lasted roughly two hours.
Every delegate voiced opposition to Infantino’s sell‑off scheme, including FA chair and FIFA vice‑president Debbie Hewitt and FA chief executive Mark Bullingham. All 55 national associations – from England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to the smaller members – voted in favour of the boycott.
Several federations released individual statements supporting the collective stance. The English FA declared, "We stand shoulder to shoulder with our European colleagues and fully back the shared view. We reject FIFA’s plans.
The World Cup belongs to football and always will." The boycott would apply to any FIFA tournament if the World Cup stake sale proceeds. Infantino has even offered a £30 million incentive to persuade FIFA members to back the controversial plan, while details about the 2030 World Cup – dates, hosts, stadiums and qualification – continue to circulate. In a further blow to the president, CONCACAF – the governing body for North, Central America and the Caribbean – also rejected the proposal.
Its 41 members convened a meeting and issued a statement expressing deep concern over the lack of review or approval by FIFA’s governance structures. Although CONCACAF did not announce a boycott, it is the first time a confederation has formally opposed a FIFA tournament in this way. UEFA’s message to Infantino is clear: "Enough is enough. We will not allow this to happen.
If you go ahead, even if you think you have enough votes, we will not participate in any of your future events." The immediate impact would be felt at the upcoming Women’s World Cup in Brazil, where no European nation would take part, and at the 2030 World Cup slated to be co‑hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco – again without European teams. The unity displayed by UEFA suggests a broader strategic possibility. Some observers speculate that UEFA could eventually consider creating its own version of a world competition, inviting top clubs from South America, Africa and Asia, thereby rendering any external investor’s interest in a 20 percent FIFA stake moot.
After all, recent World Cups have been dominated by European sides – six of the eight quarter‑finalists, three of the four semi‑finalists and the eventual champions all hailed from Europe. Without the continent’s marquee teams, the commercial appeal of a World Cup would be severely diminished, making Infantino’s proposal unlikely to attract serious investment.
Hours after UEFA’s announcement, FIFA reiterated that "nobody is selling football" but stopped short of abandoning the consultation process. Infantino now faces intense scrutiny.
Prospective investors, bankers and FIFA council members will demand explanations for why Europe has been effectively shut out of the plan. The first real test of the boycott will arrive in October during the Women’s World Cup qualifying play‑offs. England will meet Greece during the international break, with Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland also scheduled for the first round. The two‑legged ties are set for 9 and 13 October, with winners progressing to a second round in November and December.
England Women’s coach Sarina Wiegman and her staff are reportedly continuing preparations as usual, but the looming boycott adds a political dimension to the fixtures. The Women’s U‑20 World Cup, due to start on 5 September in Poland and finish on 27 September, also faces timing challenges for European nations such as Poland, England, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Globally, there are six confederations. UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) together represent 143 of the 211 national associations – more than two‑thirds of world football.
The AFC has joined Europe and North America in urging FIFA to halt the sell‑off and to conduct an urgent governance review, a statement that borders on demanding Infantino’s resignation. While Asia has traditionally backed Infantino, recent revelations – including his perceived alignment with former US President Donald Trump – have soured the relationship, though support remains in places like Saudi Arabia.
Even federations that have benefited financially from Infantino’s tenure – citing a quadrupling of FIFA funding and a promised extra £14.9 million annually – are unlikely to outweigh the collective power of UEFA and its partners. Without European participation, any World Cup would lose its commercial backbone.
Sky Sports analyst Kaveh Solhekol described FIFA’s midnight statement as “desperate, tone‑deaf and oddly lacking a direct reference to the president”. He suggested the wording reads more like Infantino’s personal defence than an official FIFA position. Solhekol warned that Infantino is “digging himself deeper” and needs to acknowledge the growing opposition, apologise to fans and member associations, and stop blaming the media – a tactic he appears to have borrowed from Trump’s playbook.
The investigative reporting by The Times and the Financial Times, which uncovered the secretive nature of the sell‑off plan, has been pivotal in sparking the current controversy. Solhekol argued that without this reporting, the uproar would not exist and the facts would remain hidden. Looking ahead, the crisis could reshape FIFA’s leadership landscape. Infantino was once poised for an unopposed re‑election in March, bolstered by letters of support from 200 of the 211 associations, including the English FA.
However, the backlash may encourage challengers. Potential candidates mentioned include PSG owner Nasser Al‑Khelaifi (though he has shown no interest), former AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al‑Khalifa, CONCACAF chief Victor Montagliani, and even UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, whose vision for football diverges sharply from Infantino’s. At present, the priority for the football community is to halt the sell‑off plan. Whether UEFA’s boycott will force a reversal remains to be seen, but the unified front presented by Europe, North America and Asia signals a formidable opposition that could reshape the governance of the sport for years to come.