UEFA has strongly opposed FIFA’s proposal to sell minority stakes in a new commercial entity linked to the World Cup and other tournaments. The European governing body held an emergency meeting of its 55 member associations this week. After discussions, UEFA agreed that its members will boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, if the plan proceeds.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced plans to create the FIFA Forward Enterprise. This body would handle commercial rights and event operations for the men’s and women’s World Cups as well as the Club World Cup. FIFA aims to sell minority, non controlling stakes to private investors. The entity has an initial valuation of around 20 billion dollars. The move could raise several billion dollars, with funds intended for redistribution to FIFA’s 211 member associations.
UEFA stated that the soul and governance of football are not assets to trade. In its response, UEFA said the game is not FIFA’s to sell. The European body criticized the lack of transparency about potential investors and who would benefit financially. UEFA and other confederations, including CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, said they were not consulted before the plan became public through media reports.
FIFA has set a deadline in September for member associations to support the proposal. Associations that back it could receive significant one time payments. UEFA described the approach as concerning and noted growing opposition across the sport. National associations in Europe and bodies such as the English Football Association expressed similar worries about the process and limited details provided.
The proposal has heightened existing tensions between UEFA and FIFA. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and European stakeholders have called for proper governance channels and broader discussion. FIFA maintains that the stakes would remain non controlling and that the funds would support development programs worldwide.
Discussions continue among football stakeholders as FIFA prepares to present the plan for a vote among its member associations.