European football's 55 member associations have unanimously agreed to boycott FIFA competitions if the governing body proceeds with a proposal to sell minority stakes in a new commercial subsidiary linked to its major tournaments, including the World Cup.
The decision was reached during an emergency virtual meeting convened by UEFA after FIFA unveiled plans to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise, a commercial entity that would allow private investors to acquire ownership interests.
UEFA said its member associations would refuse to participate in FIFA competitions unless the proposal is abandoned entirely and assurances are provided that FIFA competitions will not be opened to private ownership in the future.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has described the proposal as "an offer, not an obligation," while member associations have been asked to vote on the plan by September.
UEFA said the proposal was developed without meaningful consultation and argued that the World Cup should not be treated as a commercial asset for investors.
The organization warned that private ownership would permanently shift decision-making toward investor returns rather than the interests of national associations, clubs, players and supporters.
The boycott would apply to all FIFA competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups and the Club World Cup, if the proposal receives member approval.
FIFA's plan would create a commercial subsidiary in which outside investors could purchase minority, non-controlling stakes.
The proposed lead investor is expected to be Thrive Eternal, an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner.
Infantino has also offered financial incentives to FIFA's 211 member associations as part of the proposal, including an initial payment for federations that approve the plan before the deadline.
Opposition has expanded beyond Europe, with Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa criticizing the lack of consultation surrounding the proposal.
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter also criticized the initiative, while political figures in the United Kingdom expressed support for UEFA's position.
The dispute has increased pressure on Infantino ahead of FIFA's presidential election process, with member associations expected to decide whether the commercial restructuring moves forward.
FIFA had not publicly responded to UEFA's boycott decision at the time of reporting.