On Thursday, July 30, 2026, UEFA along with its 55 member nations voted to boycott all FIFA tournaments. This decision was made in protest against FIFA's plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to external investors.
The Scottish FA Board expressed strong agreement with the concerns raised by UEFA members, criticizing the manner in which FIFA issued the proposals and set deadlines without a full consultation process or due consideration of good governance. They stated, "It is out of the question to accede to an agreement of this nature, where we invite private investors into the heart of FIFA. We will therefore support all necessary measures to stop this project."
Alexander Wehrle, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the German FA's economic and digital subsidiary and CEO of VfB Stuttgart, condemned FIFA President Gianni Infantino's approach, saying, "A line has once again been crossed and that he wants to sell off football." Wehrle questioned Infantino's understanding of football, remarking, "Did Gianni Infantino ever play professional football? I believe it was the fifth division in Switzerland."
Further criticism questioned whether Infantino truly understands football as a unifying force, with doubts expressed about his connection to the sport beyond administrative roles.
The collective stance from UEFA and its members underscores a significant rift in the football world regarding the commercialization and governance of the sport's flagship event, the FIFA World Cup.
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