“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product,” said UEFA in a statement. “No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.”
The proposal would require the backing of a majority of FIFA’s 211 member associations, but it has been met with strong scrutiny across Europe. Although UEFA only consists of 55 member associations, it has won the majority of men’s World Cups since 1930.
“The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale,” the statement reads.
European Union Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef said on X: “I welcome this UEFA statement and fully support its position,” adding that he was “proud to see Europe’s football associations leading on governance.”
On Wednesday, the commissioner threatened to investigate FIFA’s proposal over “competition law considerations.”
While the next men’s World Cup is almost four years away, the women’s U-20 World Cup is due to take place in September and could prove to be the first test of European football associations’ resolve in following through with the boycott if FIFA doesn’t abandon its plans.