The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced on July 30 that all 55 of its member associations had unanimously agreed to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, in protest against FIFA's plan to establish a commercial subsidiary and sell shares to outside investors.
On the same day, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) also formally rejected the proposal. Meanwhile, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa sent a letter to the confederation's 47 member associations, describing the plan as "completely unacceptable."
FIFA announced on July 28 that it intends to establish a new subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to oversee the operation and commercial activities of its competitions, including the FIFA World Cup. The company is expected to carry an initial valuation of approximately US$20 billion and FIFA plans to sell up to a 20% stake to external investors.
The men's FIFA World Cup remains FIFA's primary source of revenue. The 2030 tournament will be co-hosted by Portugal, Spain and Morocco, while the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup is scheduled to take place in Brazil.
UEFA voiced strong opposition to the proposal, declaring that "the World Cup is not for sale." In its statement, the confederation said it would not participate in the tournament unless the plan is withdrawn. It also criticized FIFA's handling of the announcement as "irresponsible and wholly unreasonable."
CONCACAF first questioned the proposal in a statement issued on July 29. Following an emergency meeting involving its 41 member associations on July 30, the confederation formally rejected the plan and urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to govern the organization in accordance with its statutes.
AFC President Sheikh Salman also expressed his anger over the proposal.
UEFA accounts for 55 of FIFA's 211 member associations, representing about 26% of the global governing body's membership. Eleven of the world's top 20 men's national teams and 11 of the top 20 women's national teams currently belong to UEFA. The absence of those teams from the FIFA World Cup would have far-reaching implications for the tournament.
The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), meanwhile, adopted a more cautious stance. It said it had taken note of FIFA's consultation process with member associations and the FIFA Council, adding that the proposal will be reviewed at the Executive Committee meeting in August. OFC has invited its member associations to examine the proposal and participate in the discussions, while pledging to engage constructively with all parties in support of the continued development of football.
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