UEFA Boycotts FIFA Tournaments Over World Cup Privatization Plan

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), representing its 55 member federations, issued an official statement announcing an absolute boycott of all FIFA competitions. The boycott will remain in effect while FIFA's proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors is still under consideration. UEFA described the plan, promoted by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as “irresponsible and indefensible.” UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin emphasized that the World Cup is a historic legacy of football and must not be treated as a commercial product for private ownership. No UEFA national team will take part in FIFA‑organized tournaments unless the privatization proposal is withdrawn and binding guarantees are provided that FIFA will not open its governance or competitions to private investors.