UEFA to Boycott FIFA Competitions Over Investment Plan

UEFA, the governing body for European football, and its 55 member associations have unanimously decided to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup and the Club World Cup, if FIFA proceeds with its proposal to sell ownership stakes in major tournaments to private investors. This decision was made during an emergency virtual meeting on Thursday, chaired by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.

FIFA recently announced plans to create a commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to manage its commercial rights and allow outside investors to acquire minority stakes. UEFA issued a statement rejecting this proposal, emphasizing that the World Cup is a significant sporting legacy that should not be treated as an investment product.

If FIFA's proposal is approved in a future vote, UEFA member nations will boycott all FIFA competitions, with the first major test occurring in October during the Women’s World Cup play-offs. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has offered federations up to $40 million to support the proposal, with an initial payment of $20 million for those who approve it before the September 19 deadline.