The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has threatened to boycott all FIFA competitions if FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, proceeds with a controversial proposal to sell a stake in a commercial entity linked to the FIFA World Cup and other major tournaments.
In a statement issued after an emergency meeting of its 55 member associations, UEFA said it had “unanimously and unequivocally” rejected FIFA’s proposal to create a new commercial World Cup spin-off.
The plan would allow the sale of up to a 20 per cent stake to external investors, including Joshua Kushner, whose brother, Jared Kushner, is the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.
“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product,” UEFA said.
The European football governing body warned that the absence of its member nations from FIFA competitions would significantly diminish the sporting and commercial value of the tournaments.
Europe remains the dominant force in international football, with three of the four semi-finalists at the most recent World Cup — France, England and eventual champions Spain — coming from the continent.
According to Euronews, representatives of more than 40 national football associations spoke during the emergency meeting, describing the proposal as unacceptable.
Sources familiar with the discussions said all of them backed a boycott if FIFA proceeds with the plan.
“National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences,” the statement added.
UEFA further declared that no national team from any of its member associations would participate in FIFA competitions “for so long as these proposals remain alive,” unless FIFA completely abandons the plan and provides binding assurances that it will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.
The next FIFA Men’s World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco in 2030, while Brazil will stage the Women’s World Cup in 2027.
UEFA argued that the proposed investment structure would allow commercial interests to influence sporting decisions, fundamentally altering the governance of world football.
“Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return,” the statement said.
Reacting to the development, European Commissioner for Sport, Glenn Micallef, praised UEFA’s stance.
“Proud to see Europe’s football associations leading on governance, standing firm on their principles and defending the integrity of the game,” Micallef wrote on social media.
