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The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced on Thursday that it would boycott future men’s and women’s World Cups in response to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plan to allow private investment in its competitions.
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In a statement issued after an emergency meeting of its 55 member associations, UEFA “unanimously and unequivocally” rejected FIFA’s proposal to launch a new World Cup spin-off. The plan involves selling stakes of up to 20% to external investors, including Joshua Kushner, whose brother Jared is US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
The World Cup “cannot be treated as an investment product,” the statement said.
Without Europe’s participation, Infantino’s venture would become far less attractive, both competitively and commercially as Europeans dominate the competition. Three of the four teams to reach the semi-finals were European: France, England and winner Spain.
During the meeting, representatives of more than 40 football associations took the floor to describe the plan as unacceptable, with all of them agreeing to a boycott, sources familiar with the matter told Euronews.
“National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences,” the statement said.
UEFA added that no national team from its member associations would take part in any FIFA competition “for so long as these proposals remain alive”, unless FIFA abandons the plan in its entirety and provides binding assurances that it will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.
The next men’s World Cup will be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco in 2030, while the next women’s World Cup will take place in Brazil in 2027.
UEFA believes that under Infantino’s proposal, commercial pressure from investors would spill over into sporting decisions, leading to an unprecedented change in the world of football.
“Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return,” the statement reads.
EU Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef welcomed the decision, writing on social media after the boycott was announced: “Proud to see Europe’s football associations leading on governance, standing firm on their principles and defending the integrity of the game.”
Infantino’s plan on the ropes
In theory, Infantino’s plan could still be approved even if the European associations reject it. The proposal requires the backing of a majority of FIFA members, as well as the FIFA Council, the governing body’s 37-member decision-making panel chaired by the president.
FIFA’s voting system gives each national association one vote, regardless of its size, wealth or football tradition. That means the European associations could be outvoted if the other confederations back the plan.
However, a coordinated European withdrawal from the World Cup would have major consequences for players, broadcasters and sponsors, making the tournament considerably less appealing to global audiences.
UEFA is FIFA’s most influential confederation, both politically and financially, and its 55 member associations represent more than a quarter of FIFA’s 211 members.
European national teams are arguably the most valuable asset for FIFA, having won 13 of the 23 men’s World Cups and four of the nine women’s World Cups so far.
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) is holding an emergency meeting on Thursday evening and could follow UEFA’s lead.
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