The Union of European Football Associations has announced its intention to boycott all FIFA tournaments if the organization's president, Gianni Infantino, proceeds with his proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. This decision was made during an emergency meeting of UEFA's 55 member associations, with a unanimous vote of 55-0. In a statement, UEFA expressed its strong opposition to the plan, stating that it 'unanimously and unequivocally rejects FIFA's proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.' The Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF have also expressed their disapproval of the proposal, with the former labeling it 'totally unacceptable.' The first test of UEFA's boycott will be in October, when the 2027 Women's World Cup qualifier play-offs are scheduled to take place.
The English, Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish, and Irish national teams are all set to participate in the tournament. The UEFA boycott has received support from various football associations and leagues, including the Premier League, which has stated that it 'fully supports' UEFA's stance. The British Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, has also expressed her support for the boycott, stating that 'football belongs to the fans, not billionaire investors.' FIFA's proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup has been met with widespread criticism, with many arguing that it would compromise the integrity of the sport and prioritize commercial interests over the needs of the game.
The proposal, which aims to raise up to $4.2 billion from external investors, has been described as 'irresponsible' and 'indefensible' by UEFA. The organization has stated that it will not participate in any FIFA competitions unless the proposal is abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances are given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.