In the statement issued by the body on Thursday, UEFA expressed its revulsion at FIFA’s decision to press ahead with its plan to hand over part ownership of the World Cup to private investors, warning it goes against everything that football stands for
The national football associations of 55 European nations have announced that they will no longer participate in tournaments organised by FIFA.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by UEFA on behalf of the national associations, where they unambiguously and categorically rejected FIFA’s ‘proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors’.
How the saga started
Earlier in the week, FIFA president Gianni Infantino had announced plans to cede the sport’s most valuable commercial rights to private investors. No sooner had Infantino confirmed the proposal than Europe football governing body issued a feisty statement rejecting the move. It warned that FIFA’s move to sell a stake in the World Cup crosses every red line.
The statement: “This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross. UEFA takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game.
The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us is the owner of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”
On Wednesday, Infantino announced that 211 countries and member associations have until September 19, 2026 deadline to accept the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, stating that Federations that back the move to sell minority stakes in major events like the World Cup can receive up to $40 million total, starting with a $20 million upfront payment and those who reject it will not be entitled to the payout.
UEFA responded to the deadline immediately. It noted that the ultimatum to national associations was an attempt to coerce and arm-twist them into supporting the plan.
It said, “Today we have learned of FIFA’s deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn. This says everything you need to know about this plan.
“But having held discussions with many stakeholders across the game, UEFA knows there is significant and growing opposition to FIFA’s scheme. FIFA cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends. We can grow the game correctly. It’s time to prioritise associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans.”
On Thursday, UEFA announced that its national associations will no longer participate in FIFA competitions.
In the statement issued by the body on Thursday, UEFA expressed its revulsion at FIFA’s decision to press ahead with its plan to hand over part ownership of the World Cup to private investors, warning it goes against everything that football stands for.
UEFA stated that it was reckless and unreasonable for FIFA to have pushed through with the privatisation plan without consulting with critical stakeholders.
Read the full statement below
UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions.
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 World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.”
It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game. This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football.
“National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences. This is not a “democratic decision”, but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.
But our opposition goes far beyond process.
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. From that moment onwards, every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders.
This model has no place in world football. Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return. Nor can the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters become subordinate to investor returns. Football cannot mortgage its future for financial gain.
Europe’s position is clear. We will never lend this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation.
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.
Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination.
There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise. This is one of those moments.
Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale
