European football community pushes back against FIFA's World Cup stake proposal
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) has openly opposed FIFA’s plan to sell a stake in the World Cup, arguing that the move lacks transparency and threatens the sport’s democratic foundations.
The criticism comes from a coalition that includes UEFA member nations, which have voted unanimously to boycott the tournament and any related FIFA events.
Solidarity across continents
Asian and North American confederations have voiced their support for the European boycott, framing the issue as a shared concern for the integrity of global football.
The coordinated stance signals a rare alignment of interests among diverse footballing regions.
Leadership reacts
FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, announced his resignation in protest of the proposal, underscoring the depth of the disagreement.
Stuart Dykes, director of FSE, has been a vocal critic, stating that football’s true value is created by fans, players and all stakeholders, not by private investors seeking to extract profit.
He emphasized that decisions affecting the sport cannot be made behind closed doors by non‑football actors, and praised UEFA for uniting all 55 European nations in the boycott decision.
The collective message, according to Dykes, is a strong affirmation from the entire football community that the sport’s future must be decided by those who actually play and follow it.