UEFA declares European teams will boycott FIFA tournaments

On Thursday, the 55 national federations that belong to UEFA gathered and issued a stark statement: no UEFA national team will take part in any FIFA competition while the disputed proposals remain, the organisation confirmed in a communiqué posted on president Aleksander Ceferin’s website.

The message quoted a passionate declaration: “Hay cosas demasiado importantes como para venderlas. La Copa Mundial de la FIFA pertenece al fútbol. Siempre será así. Y mientras Europa tenga voz, jamás estará a la venta”. The Spanish‑language excerpt was reproduced verbatim, preserving the original wording.

UEFA’s extensive communiqué framed the situation as an ultimatum for every football federation worldwide, warning they must either accept an irreversible takeover of the sport’s premier competitions or face the consequences. It described the process as intimidation, not a democratic decision.

The statement listed the next FIFA events on the calendar, beginning with the FIFA Women’s U20 World Cup in Poland from 5 to 27 September, which will feature six European sides – Spain, England, France, Italy, Portugal and the host nation.

It also highlighted the upcoming UEFA Women’s World Cup playoffs in October, involving England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, followed by the pending Women’s U17 World Cup in Morocco and the senior Women’s World Cup in Brazil scheduled for 24 June to 25 July 2027.

UEFA's boycott threat rattles FIFA and puts the World Cup at risk

UEFA warned that allowing external investors to become shareholders in FIFA competitions would permanently alter football, turning commercial profitability into a constant requirement and shifting decisions on calendars and formats to serve shareholders’ interests.

The organisation argued that such a profit‑driven model has no place in world football, rejecting any future where the sport is conditioned by the need to maximise economic returns for investors.

UEFA reaffirmed that the interests of national federations, leagues, clubs, players and fans must not be subordinated to investor gains, insisting that football cannot “mortgage its future for money”.

Infantino pitches World Cup sale as UEFA and Pro League chief balk

In its official statement, UEFA and its 55 member associations declared a unanimous rejection of FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership of the World Cup and other competitions to private investors, emphasizing that the World Cup is a legacy built over generations and is not for sale.

The body concluded that the proposal, conceived in secrecy and pushed forward without meaningful consultation, represents a profound lack of leadership and an abdication of FIFA’s duty as guardian of global football.