European football's governing body UEFA declared on Thursday, July 30th, 2026, that it will boycott the World Cup if FIFA proceeds with its controversial plan to sell minority stakes in a new commercial subsidiary managing major tournaments, including the World Cup and Club World Cup.

In a statement, UEFA said, "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."

FIFA announced on Tuesday plans to create a $20 billion subsidiary, the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), aiming to raise up to $4.2 billion by offering up to 20% stakes to private investors who would remain minority shareholders.

UEFA criticized the proposal as "irresponsible and indefensible," highlighting that it was conceived in secret and brought close to approval without meaningful consultation with football's stewards. UEFA emphasized that "The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product ... No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale."

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also expressed concerns about the lack of consultation with FIFA's 211 member associations.

Following a virtual meeting, UEFA's member associations unanimously voted to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions in protest. The English Football Association supported the decision, stating it "stands shoulder to shoulder with our European colleagues."

FIFA is scheduled to stage its inaugural Under-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan in October 2026.

Sources