The European Football Union "UEFA" attacked its counterpart "FIFA" after the decisions issued in the past few days to sell part of FIFA's shares to a new company that will manage the upcoming World Cup competitions.
Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, announced that there are investors who will buy 20% of the shares of the International Football Association, alongside the presence of a company called "fifa forward enterprise", which will oversee the management of the upcoming tournaments.
Following the meeting held by UEFA, led by its president Aleksander Čeferin, it was announced that the 55 member associations decided to boycott the men's and women's World Cups in protest against Infantino's new proposal.
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UEFA said in an official statement: "UEFA and its 55 member associations stand together, as we unanimously and categorically reject FIFA's proposal to transfer ownership of shares in the World Cup and other tournaments to private sector investors".
The statement added: "The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product, as this tournament is one of the greatest tournaments and represents the legacy of football. This tournament was built over generations by players, national teams, and fans around the world, and no part of it should ever be relinquished to private sector investors. The World Cup is not for sale."
It clarified: "It is completely unjustified to put forward a proposal of this importance to football in secret and announce its near-approval without serious consultation with those responsible for managing the game. This is not just a glaring failure in management, but an abandonment of FIFA's duty as the guardian of football."
It continued: "National associations around the world now face two decisions from FIFA: either accept the final takeover of football's most important tournaments, or bear the consequences. This is not a democratic decision, but a ruling by intimidation, and an arbitrary act unworthy of an institution tasked with managing the game."
It went on: "But our opposition to these decisions goes beyond merely taking measures. Once outside investors acquire shares in FIFA's tournaments, it will mean that football will change forever, as commercial returns become a permanent commitment, and investors' expectations turn into daily pressure on everyone. From that moment, no decision related to the schedule regarding international matches, or regarding tournaments, or shaping the future of football, will be driven by what serves the interest of the game, but by what serves the interests of the shareholders."
It continued: "This model has no place in football. The future of football cannot be bet on a group whose primary goal is to achieve maximum material benefit. Nor can the interests of national associations, tournaments, clubs, players, and fans be subjected to investors' returns. The future of football cannot be bet solely to achieve financial gains."
The statement concluded: "The position of the European associations is clear. We will never grant this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral right to sell what is entrusted to them for future generations."
It elaborated: "As a result of the meeting held today, no national teams affiliated with UEFA will participate in any FIFA tournament as long as these proposals remain in place, and unless this proposal is completely abandoned and guarantees are provided obligating FIFA not to open its tournaments to private ownership again."
It added: "No one should doubt that UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with all firmness. There are moments when the true value of institutions is measured not by what they accept, but by what they refuse to relinquish, and now we are living through one of these moments."
It concluded: "Some things are simply too important to be sold. The World Cup belongs to football alone, and it will always remain so. As long as Europe has a voice, this cup will never be for sale."
🚨 UEFA Statement: "UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors."The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment… https://t.co/Kw6YFZpIKf — Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 30, 2026@JacobsBen