All 55 members of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) have voted unanimously to boycott all FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, dealing a serious blow to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell a stake of the same to private investors.
According to reports, the vote, held during an emergency meeting, passed 55-0.
UEFA said in a statement that its members “unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors”.
The statement added that no UEFA national teams will take part in any FIFA competition as long as the proposal remains active, unless FIFA abandons it completely and gives binding guarantees that it will never again allow private ownership of its governance or competitions.
Infantino’s plan would create a $20 billion subsidiary to manage the World Cup and other FIFA events, with minority stakes offered to private investors.
FIFA has offered each of its 211 member associations $40 million if they approve the plan by September 19, as part of a $10 billion package set to begin in January 2027.
If the proposal is rejected, the offer drops to $2.7 billion overall, or around $10 million per association.
UEFA argued that the World Cup is not for sale and should never be treated as an investment product. The organisation said that handing ownership stakes to outside investors would permanently change football, turning commercial return into a constant obligation and investor expectations into daily pressure.
The decision affects major upcoming events, including the 2027 women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2030 men’s World Cup, co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Other bodies have also pushed back as all 41 members of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) rejected the proposal after a Thursday meeting, citing a lack of due process, a short deadline and no review by FIFA’s governance bodies.
However, Mexico’s football federation said it has not made a final decision and wants more information from FIFA’s planned round-table discussions.
The Asian Football Confederation warned that the plan cannot succeed without support from all six regional confederations. Its president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, said FIFA never consulted his organisation before announcing the plan and called that “totally unacceptable”.
Africa’s confederation will review the proposal at a meeting next week, and Oceania plans to discuss it next month.
FIFPRO, the global players’ union, also opposed the plan, warning it could permanently change the incentives shaping the tournaments players compete in.
Infantino, who is seeking re-election as FIFA president next year, has described the plan as a step toward “democratisation” of the sport’s finances. However, with UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC all voicing opposition, FIFA now faces mounting pressure to reconsider the proposal.
