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New Delhi: UEFA has agreed to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, following an emergency meeting on Thursday to “unequivocally reject” the global football body’s president Gianni Infantino’s plan to raise $20 billion of outside investment with a share sell-off to a private equity group.

This decision means that major countries, including Germany, France, England and world champions Spain, will not compete in the men’s or women’s World Cups. Earlier this week, Infantino revealed the plans to sell a stake in FIFA Forward Enterprises (FEE) that would raise big funds in exchange for influence over future World Cups, including the broadcasting and commercial deals linked to the competitions.

The proposal is backed by American investor Josh Kushner and the bank JP Morgan, which would trigger more than $80 million in payouts to every FIFA’s 211 member associations between now and 2037. Infantino has set a September 19 deadline for associations to accept the plan.

UEFA held a virtual meeting with its 55 member associations in which more than 50 of them expressed anger at Infantino’s plans. The European football body has agreed to boycott all future FIFA tournaments until the sell-off plan is called off.

UEFA released an official statement on behalf of its 55 national associations, saying that they will not participate in FIFA competitions.

“UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors,” UEFA said in a released statement.

“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale,” it added.

The statement further added that no UEFA national teams will compete in any FIFA competition as long as those proposals remain alive.

“No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” the statement said.

Statement on behalf of UEFA and its 55 National Associations

— UEFA (@UEFA) July 30, 2026

According to ESPN sources, a potential FIFA boycott by European nations could turn women’s football into a “pawn in politics” since the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil is the next major tournament on the calendar.