Europe’s football governing body, UEFA, has declared it will boycott all FIFA tournaments if FIFA moves forward with its plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. This decision follows a unanimous vote by UEFA’s 55 member associations during an emergency meeting on Thursday, July 30th, 2026.

"No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive," UEFA stated. The organization emphasized that "The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product" and that "No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale."

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who notably boycotted the recent World Cup final to express dissatisfaction with FIFA, criticized the proposed commercial model, saying it "has no place in world football." He further stated, "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. Football's future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return."

In addition to UEFA’s opposition, CONCACAF, the football governing body for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, also rejected the proposal, citing concerns about the lack of due process. However, CONCACAF did not announce any boycott of FIFA tournaments.

FIFA, a non-profit association, announced on Tuesday, July 28th, 2026, plans to create a commercial subsidiary to manage its major events, including the World Cup and Club World Cup.

European commissioner for sports Glenn Micallef expressed support for UEFA’s stance, stating on social media, "I welcome this UEFA statement and fully support its position."

Sources