UEFA has officially escalated its dispute with FIFA by announcing that its 55 member associations will boycott FIFA competitions if the governing body moves forward with its plan to sell part of the commercial rights to the World Cup and other major tournaments. The decision follows an emergency meeting during which European football leaders united against Gianni Infantino’s proposal.
In a strongly worded statement, UEFA declared: “UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions.” The organization also insisted that “the World Cup is not for sale,” arguing that football’s biggest tournament should never become an investment product. UEFA criticized FIFA for developing the project without consulting its stakeholders and accused the governing body of abandoning its responsibility to protect the sport. The statement also condemned what it described as “governance by intimidation” and “an act of coercion.”
Infantino wants FIFA to create a commercial company that would manage the rights to the World Cup and the Club World Cup before selling a minority stake to private investors. FIFA believes the project will generate significant new revenue for its member associations. UEFA, however, has warned that it will boycott the 2027 Women’s World Cup if FIFA approves the plan and could extend that action to future tournaments, including the 2030 Men’s World Cup.
