What was decided
UEFA and its 55 member associations announced a unanimous decision to refuse participation in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions while talks continue over FIFA's plan to sell ownership interests in those events to external investors. The European governing body said the measure is contingent on FIFA abandoning the proposal entirely and providing binding assurances that its competitions and governance will not be opened to private ownership in the future.
Union stance and language
In a statement, UEFA declared: "UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors." The confederation added: "As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership."
UEFA argued the World Cup "was not for sale" and could not be treated as an investment product to be surrendered to private investors. On the plan, UEFA said: "This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football." The statement continued: "The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure."
Reaction across other confederations
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had earlier circulated a sharply worded letter to its 47 member associations that warned the sale proposal would not succeed without the backing of all regional confederations. AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa said the AFC had not been consulted by FIFA before the public announcement and described the absence of detailed governance, financial or legal analysis as "totally unacceptable."
Sheikh Salman also stressed that the initiative required unanimity among the six confederations to succeed: "Such an initiative will not succeed without the support of all the confederations, which is not the case now," he wrote.
CONCACAF, representing North America, Central America and the Caribbean, also criticised FIFA for a lack of consultation. The African confederation's executive committee is scheduled to meet next week to review the plan, while the Oceania confederation - the smallest regional bloc with 11 full members - plans to discuss it at a meeting next month. South America's CONMEBOL had not issued a public comment at the time of UEFA's announcement.
Players and unions weigh in
Players' organisations have voiced opposition as well. FIFPRO, the global players union, warned the proposal would "irreversibly reshape the incentives underpinning the competitions in which players work and build careers."
Australia's Professional Footballers Australia added its criticism on transparency and consultation. The PFA said: "The PFA is disturbed by the lack of transparency surrounding the proposal and the absence of meaningful consultation with those that generate the value that FIFA is seeking to exploit - the players and the fans." The statement continued: "At a time when football desperately requires greater transparency, accountability and good governance, proposals of this significance raise questions about who the game is run by and in whose interests. These tournaments should not be for sale."
FIFA leadership, proposal mechanics and incentives
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has championed the project, which envisages the creation of a $20 billion subsidiary to operate the World Cup and other FIFA events and the offering of minority stakes to private investors. As part of incentives tied to the plan, Infantino proposed making $40 million available to each of FIFA's 211 member associations if they approve the plan by September 19, as part of a $10 billion package slated to become available from January 1, 2027.
If member associations reject the proposal, Infantino has said the offer would revert to a previously proposed $2.7 billion package, which was equivalent to roughly $10 million per member association. He has indicated the plan will be put to a vote first among FIFA's 211 member associations and then considered by the FIFA Executive Council.
Commercial advisers and wider debate
Greg Maffei, a commercial adviser to FIFA on the initiative and former chief executive of Liberty Media, argued the plan should not be characterised as "selling the World Cup," saying FIFA would retain majority control under the structure being discussed. He commented: "There’s a trend of this going on in sports all over the place. It’s something that all sorts of people have done."
Next steps and unresolved questions
With UEFA's formal boycott decision, the success of FIFA's plan now faces heightened uncertainty. Several confederations have signalled they will review the proposal at upcoming meetings, and FIFA's pathway requires approval from its full membership and later from its executive body. The widespread objections documented by continental bodies, players' unions and national associations underline the procedural and governance concerns that opponents have emphasised, particularly around consultation and the potential long-term effects of private investor involvement.
At present, key questions remain open and are being considered by the various regional confederations and stakeholders. UEFA's demand for binding assurances and the unanimous resistance from its 55 members mean the proposal confronts a major institutional barrier unless FIFA alters or withdraws the plan.