UEFA to boycott FIFA tournaments if plan to sell World Cup stake goes ahead
UEFA has threatened to boycott all FIFA tournaments if FIFA proceeds with plans to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. The governing body argues that the World Cup should not be treated as a commercial investment product.
Why it matters
This represents a major governance conflict in global sports, pitting traditional non-profit structures against private equity-backed commercialization models.
Europe’s powerful football governing body says it will boycott all FIFA tournaments if it presses ahead with its plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors.
UEFA’s 55 member associations unanimously voted not to take part in future World Cups or other FIFA-run events if the proposal goes ahead.
"No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive," UEFA said following an emergency meeting on Thursday.
"The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product ... No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale."
In a further blow to FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s plan, CONCACAF has also rejected the proposal saying it was concerned about the lack of due process.
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