European football's governing body, UEFA, announced a unanimous decision by its member associations to boycott the FIFA World Cup and other FIFA-run tournaments. This action is in response to FIFA's recent proposal to establish a $20 billion subsidiary responsible for managing the World Cup and related events, with plans to sell up to 20% ownership stakes to private investors.

UEFA's Stand Against Privatization

UEFA emphasized that the World Cup is a historic sporting legacy built by generations of players, teams, and fans worldwide. They declared that no part of the tournament should be handed over to private investors, stating, "The World Cup is not for sale." The boycott will remain in effect until FIFA abandons these proposals entirely and guarantees that its governance and competitions will not be opened to private ownership.

Support from Other Confederations

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF have also expressed strong criticism of FIFA's plans, highlighting that they were not consulted during the decision-making process. The English Football Association publicly supported UEFA's stance, affirming solidarity with European football organizations.

Upcoming FIFA Events

  • The Women's World Cup is scheduled to take place in Brazil next year.
  • FIFA plans to host its inaugural Under-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan this October.