All 55 European Football Associations Threaten to Boycott World Cups Over FIFA's Plan to Sell Stake to Investors

At an emergency UEFA meeting, all 55 European football associations unanimously agreed to boycott the World Cup should FIFA proceed with its plan to sell a stake in the commercial rights to men's, women's, youth and club world championships to private investors. The decision was announced by UEFA following the meeting.

The boycott would extend beyond the men's World Cup to cover every tournament organised by FIFA, including the women's championship and the Club World Cup. The first competition to be affected would be the Women's U-20 World Cup, set to be hosted by Poland in September.

"We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA's proposal to transfer ownership stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors," the European football body said.

UEFA stressed: "The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football's greatest sporting legacies, built by generations of players, national teams and fans across every continent. No part of it should ever be handed over to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale."

FIFA unveiled its initiative on Tuesday. The plan involves setting up a subsidiary company in which private owners could acquire up to 20% of the shares for a payment of more than $4 billion (roughly 89 billion crowns). FIFA President Gianni Infantino has set a deadline of 19 September for approval of the proposal. In a letter to all member associations, he promised payouts of up to $40 million (850 million crowns) to those who back the initiative. Infantino defends the plan, arguing it would generate additional funds for the development of world football.

As early as Wednesday, Czech Football Association chairman David Trunda told Sky News he saw "potential benefits and positive aspects" in Infantino's proposals — a remark that earned him the label, from the broadcaster itself, of someone endorsing a plan widely regarded as scandalous. In response, the Czech Football League said it considered it essential to firmly and unconditionally back UEFA's stance, which had sharply criticised FIFA's initiative.

Then on Thursday, UEFA issued an unusually forceful statement opening with the words: "We stand united."

Until Infantino withdraws his proposals, football's strongest continent will stand apart. "Let there be no doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute resolve. There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are willing to accept, but by the compromises they refuse to make. This is one of those moments. Some things are too important to be sold. The World Cup belongs to football. It always will. As long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale," the statement reads.

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz