UEFA and its 55 member associations reject FIFA's proposal for private World Cup ownership

Rejection of Privatization Proposal

UEFA and its 55 member associations have unanimously rejected FIFA's proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors. The organization views the World Cup as a sporting legacy that should not be treated as an investment product or surrendered to private entities.

Lack of Consultation and Governance Concerns

UEFA criticized FIFA for conceiving the proposal in secret and bringing it close to approval without meaningful consultation with stakeholders. They described this as a profound failure of leadership and an abdication of FIFA's duty as the custodian of world football, characterizing the approach as 'governance by intimidation' rather than a democratic decision.

Impact on Football's Future

The core opposition stems from the belief that external investors acquiring ownership interests would fundamentally change football. UEFA argues that commercial return and investor expectations would become permanent obligations, dictating decisions on the international calendar, competition formats, and the sport's future, rather than what best serves the game itself. This model, they state, has no place in world football.

Boycott Threat

As a direct consequence of this discussion, UEFA has declared that its national teams will not participate in any FIFA competition for as long as these privatization proposals remain active. This stance underscores UEFA's firm opposition to the proposed model, emphasizing that football's future cannot be dictated by financial gain or investor returns.