FIFA has announced that it intends to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from several of the sport’s most powerful regional bodies.
The governing bodies of Europe and North America, UEFA and Concacaf, together represent 96 of FIFA’s 211 member associations, and they have issued a joint statement threatening to boycott any FIFA‑sanctioned competition if the proposal goes ahead.
A Plan That Could Reshape Global Soccer
To turn the plan into reality, FIFA requires the backing of at least 106 of its members, but the combined opposition of UEFA and Concacaf leaves the proposal with only 115 votes, a narrow margin that could be decisive.
In a formal response, FIFA defended the initiative, saying it would provide member associations with new commercial opportunities while preserving the spirit of the game.
The controversy is already affecting the upcoming U‑20 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to begin in Poland on September 20, as the tournament’s fate is tied to the same deadline of September 19, when associations must decide whether to accept Gianni Infantino’s plan.
Six European nations — France, England, Italy, Portugal, Spain and host Poland — are identified as the most likely to pull out, a prospect that would strip the tournament of several traditional powerhouses.
Laura McAllister, a UEFA vice‑president, voiced the concerns of many, warning that the controversy could harm players and nations alike and that FIFA has created a problem that now threatens to engulf the sport.
If the boycott materializes, the repercussions would extend beyond the youth event, potentially reshaping the financial landscape of international soccer and raising questions about the future governance of the world’s most popular sport.